Zdeno Chara says series against Boston is not personal originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
As Zdeno Chara prepares to play against the team he served as captain of for 14 years, he said on Saturday that he does not view this series against the Boston Bruins to be personal.
Rather than accept a reduced role from Boston where he had played 1,023 regular-season games, Chara shocked the hockey world in the offseason when he decided to test free agency. The soon-to-be 44-year-old signed with the Capitals where he has played 55 out of 56 games as a regular on the third pair and penalty kill.
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Despite showing the NHL he still had more left in the tank than the Bruins may have believed, Chara is not entering this series against his former team with any sort of vendetta or an ax to grind. To him, it's just another series.
"It's all about the team," Chara said after Saturday's morning skate. "It's nothing personal. It's just the way it worked out and that's the way it is."
Of course, it's unlikely Chara would say otherwise. But he is adamant that the only thing he is excited about now is playoff hockey, regardless of who the opponent is.
"It's playoff hockey," Chara said. "I think the teams that are in the playoffs battle hard throughout the whole season to get to the playoffs. The matchups are matchups, but it's exciting part of the year. We all battle hard to get to the playoffs so now it's the time."
Tune into Caps Pregame Live at 6 PM on NBC Sports Washington.
