Chara back on ice for Bruins after 7 weeks

BOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is back on the ice.

The 2009 Norris Trophy winner returned for Thursday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Chara missed seven weeks since tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Oct. 23.

The Bruins went 11-8-1 without him.

A 6-foot-9 Slovak, Chara had been the anchor of the Bruins' defense since they signed him as a free agent in 2006. He had two goals and an assist in the first nine games this season before he was injured in a collision with New York Islanders forward John Tavares.