Recchi: Habs 'embellished' injury

The 22-year-old Habs forward suffered a fractured vertebra and severe concussion March 8 after being pushed headfirst into the boards by the Bruins captain.

Chara was handed a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for the hit.

But he escaped both a fine and suspension from the NHL over the incident, despite widespread calls for punishment, with even Air Canada and the Canadian prime minister urging firm retribution.

Speaking ahead of the return game in Boston, Recchi told local radio station WBZ that while he hoped Pacioretty was well, it was clear to him that the Habs stretched the truth of his concussion in order to see Chara condemned.

"I believe, yeah, they were trying to get Zdeno suspended, and they embellished it a little bit," the Bruins veteran said Wednesday. "You have to look at it -- I guess they were trying to do whatever they could to get him suspended. And I think the league sent the message that it was a hockey play, and that's the important thing that people have to understand."

Recchi added, "(Pacioretty) does obviously have a fractured vertebra, but the concussion was obviously really a non-factor, maybe a day or two. Maybe a day he felt it, then he was fine a couple of days later."