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Zdeno Chara suffers knee injury, out 4-to-6 weeks (Update)

Greg Wyshynski
New York Islanders defenseman Brian Strait (37) collides with New York Islanders' Zdeno Chara during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Chara left the game during the first period for unspecified reasons, according to team officials. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New York Islanders defenseman Brian Strait (37) collides with New York Islanders' Zdeno Chara during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Chara left the game during the first period for unspecified reasons, according to team officials. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins star defenseman Zdeno Chara left their 3-2 loss vs. the New York Islanders during the first period with an injury, and the news isn't good.

Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston and TSN's Aaron Ward report that Chara will miss 4-to-6 weeks with ligament damage to his left knee, and that surgery for the backliner isn't out of the question.

Chara was evaluated at a local hospital after the game. Speculation is that Chara was injured on this hit against John Tavares of the Islanders:

As you can see, there was some knee-on-knee action there.

Chara threw another check on that shift against Kyle Okposo, but didn’t skate again during the period.

Via CSNNE.com, Julien said after rhe game:

“When you lose your captain and your best defenseman, there’s no doubt it’s going to have an effect on your team. You’re going to lose guys during the season. It’s going to happen. How you react to it and how you respond to it is what’s important.”

According to McDonald, this is how the Bruins have responded without Chara: "Since joining the Bruins in 2006, the team is 341-204-66 with Chara in the lineup and 8-7-5 without him."