As the seconds ticked down on another Pittsburgh Penguins power play opportunity Sunday, Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara threw his body in front of Jared McCann’s one-timer. The puck ricocheted off Chara’s leg away from net, and Chara — all 6-foot-9 of him — crumpled over and careened into the wall.
But Chara then popped back up, even with a grimace on his face, and skated back toward the crease to continue defending.
“Guys are definitely paying the price,” defenseman Nick Jensen said. “Guys are blocking shots, and trust me, it hurts. But it’s all worth it.