BOSTON (AP) — Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has left the team’s game against the New York Islanders.

The team didn’t elaborate on why Chara didn’t return to the bench at the start of the second period. He finished his last shift with 8:04 remaining in the first period. There was no outward indication of an injury at that time.

The 6-foot-9 Slovakian, a third-round pick of the Islanders in 1996, is Boston’s No. 1 defenseman and spends more time on the ice than any other Bruins player. He has two goals and an assist in nine games this season.

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