Haggerty On Toucher & Rich: 'Operation Rest Chara' Is Failing
BOSTON (CBS) - CSNNE Bruins insider Joe Haggerty was a guest on Toucher & Rich Wednesday morning to cover their road win over the New York Rangers last night.
Also, captain Zdeno Chara looked sluggish in the playoffs last year, and the thought was that maybe this season they could limit his ice time to keep him fresh for the postseason. That plan is failing, and Haggs explains why the Winter Olympics in Sochi will spell doom for the Slovak.
READ: Haggerty Talks Olympic Hockey On Toucher & Rich
"If I were the Bruins I would love to sit down with Zdeno Chara and beg him not to play [in the Olympics]. His minutes are now going up after they wanted to rest him. He averaged 23+ minutes per game in the month of October, and he's up to over 25 now in November. He had to play 31:27 last night because Dennis Seidenberg went down," said Haggerty.
"'Operation Rest Chara' is not working. Having him fly over to Russia and play in Olympic games, then fly back and play 17 games in March is not going to leave him fresh, shiny and new when the playoffs start."
On the Bruins and Rangers game Tuesday in Madison Square Garden, Tuukka Rask started in net for the second time in as many nights in what was his most active game of the season. Rask stopped 43 of 44 shots and spoiled the return of Rick Nash to the Rangers en route to a 2-1 Bruins win.
The Adam Jones Show: Bruins Plus/Minus After Road Win Over Rangers
After a healthy scratch the night before in Carolina, tough guy fourth-liner Shawn Thornton scored a second period goal on Rangers Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist. Daniel Paille also had a goal, a shorthander that gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Haggs didn't walk away impressed with the win, and felt like they may have stolen one on a night they didn't play their best hockey.
"Outside of Chara, outside of Patrice Bergeron, and outside of the fourth line and Tuukka there weren't a lot of guys who showed up last night, and I think that's a concern."
Listen to the full interview below:
Operation Rest Chara Failing
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