Fluto in the Athletic with a good story on Chara's struggles, how the BJs are attacking him, and how the forwards could help.
"In some ways, Chara is built for opponents like Columbus. In Game 2, Chara obliterated Riley Nash, hitting him hard enough that the lasting effects most likely contributed to the ex-Bruin’s unavailability for Games 4 and 5. Even at 42 years old, the strongman can overpower roughnecks like Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and Josh Anderson when they rumble down low.
The Blue Jackets, however, have adapted. They now believe they are better served getting to their rush game instead of grinding in half-court offense.
Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk are suited to play this style. Lively legs and fleet feet allow them to close quickly before rushes blow up into Grade-A chances.
Chara is not as well-equipped to defend in this manner. As a result, the Blue Jackets have not been shy about going straight at Chara — and enjoying favorable outcomes...
When Chara is playing well, he uses his stick like a Jersey barrier. By stretching out a sturdy and precise stick, Chara can blunt rushes by steering opponents into dead-water detours. Chara can also negate attacks when he gaps up and discourages puck carriers from accelerating.
But a wobbly stick and slack gaps have, at times, placed Chara on an island: backtracking against onrushing attackers instead of killing their rushes stoutly and aggressively. Big men like Foligno, Jenner and Anderson are far more dangerous when they can use the length of the ice as a runway to gather speed with the puck.
“At the start of the series, they were playing behind us a lot,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Then all of a sudden, now they’re more attack-oriented one-on-one. They’re willing to challenge our (defensemen) one-on-one. We just have to understand where we want to put them. If your gap is good, or even with the forward, usually you can dictate where you want them to go with a good stick and keep them to the outside. They’ve gotten inside on us a few times for some really good chances. Boone Jenner, in particular, has done a real good job of that.”
This has not all been on Chara. Forwards, especially the third man high, are critical in helping Chara keep tight gaps. If they reload better in Game 6, Chara will not be as isolated when Columbus completes jailbreaks.
“Our forwards can help with back pressure on those as well,” Cassidy said. “If they tighten the gap on how much room they have to get inside with good back pressure, then they won’t be able to make those moves. They’ll have to be outside — chips and shots from outside the dots. Part of it goes on the forwards as well to make sure you reclaim your ice when you’re working back.”