J.T. Miller Flattened Zdeno Chara With a Check Into the Boards

J.T. Miller is a 6’1” 205-pound center. Zdeno Chara is a 6’9” 256-pound defenseman with a reputation for violence. During the Rangers 5-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday, Miller lined up Chara along the boards and hit him with a legal and solid check that put Chara on the ice. The big man didn’t like it, but Miller lived to (probably have to) fight another day. Via the New York Daily News:

"“I don’t know. I kind of blacked out there,” Miller said with a smirk, after the Blueshirts rode two power play goals and Henrik Lundqvist’s 39 saves to a second straight home victory. “I just tried to make sure I hit him and didn’t back down from the big man. He was falling down. That’s the only way he went down.” It may have taken all Miller had to stand his ground as Chara rose from the ice to retaliate, but that’s the point: Miller didn’t budge. “He probably doesn’t get knocked over often, I guess, so he probably got a little pissed off,” Miller said. “But they’re down in the game so he’s probably trying to get something going, as well — not with me, hopefully.”"

Good luck with that. If the Rangers and Bruins meet again this season, it will have to be in the playoffs. They’re currently set up for the 2-7 matchup in the first round.