Max Pacioretty stretchered off after devastating Zdeno Chara hit

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Max Pacioretty stretchered off after devastating Zdeno Chara hit. Max Pacioretty(notes) and Zdeno Chara(notes) have history, stemming from their postgame shoving match in January. With just under 16 seconds remaining in the second period on Tuesday night, their rivalry took a stunning and disturbing turn: Chara rode Pacioretty into the glass between the benches, leaving him motionless on the ice before he was taken off on a stretcher:



Chara was given a 5-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The refs declared the period over. The Canadiens told the AP that Pacioretty was "conscious and moving his extremities when he was taken to the hospital for observation."

Scary, scary scene ... but was it intentional? Clearly, Pacioretty had nudged the puck ahead and Chara finished a check to take him out of the play. The interference call was correct; the major was based on the injury. Was it a case of reckless play by Chara or simply unfortunate geography for the hit on Pacioretty?

Here's how NESN in Boston saw the play, with Gord Kluzak on the analysis.

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe reports that Pacioretty is "OK at local hospital. Full use of limbs."

Here's CSNNE's Joe Haggerty with words from Chara, who came off the Bruins team bus to speak with reporters.