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Felger & Mazz: Bourque Calls Chara 'The Toughest Guy To Play Against In The League'

98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger and Massarotti were joined by legendary Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque, and the Hall of Famer had plenty of praise to lay upon current captain Zdeno Chara.

"I think that's where it all started with the Bruins in terms of turning it over and them really committing to being a contender again. I think it starts on the back side and they don't come much better than Z," Bourque told Felger & Mazz. "He is the toughest guy to play against in the league. When you have a guy like that playing against the best from the other team every night, let me tell you that it's not much fun from the opponents playing against him. Not only the way he plays but the way he approaches the game, his attitude, his training, his commitment, just everything that comes with that guy."

Bourque said it's that type of approach that inspires the captain's teammates to follow his lead.

"When you have your best players being the best people in terms of how they prepare and how they go about their business, everybody has to follow," Bourque said. "And that goes with Z, and Patrice [Bergeron] and so many other guys now in how they prepare and how they paly. It just shows up big time."

Bourque, a former teammate of current team president Cam Neely and assistant GM Don Sweeney, have major influences on the current team.

"Knowing what a Bruin should be all about, in terms of character and [knowing] how hard it's gotta be to play against the Bruins and once you face the Bruins you know that you're in for a tough fight -- they've brought that back," Bourque said. "Both those guys, along with Peter [Chiarelli] really wanted a team that was hard to play against, and they've certainly done that."

Bourque also discussed what he's seeing from the current team, how important Rich Peverley's return is to the four lines and what the post-Stanley Cup fatigue can do to a hockey team.

98.5 The Sports Hub is the only place to hear every game of the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins 2011-12 NHL season with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes before the puck drops, with Postgame coverage following each game.

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