BOSTON -- Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was not at TD Garden on Wednesday as the team practiced a day ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final -- a likely sign that the defenseman will not be available to play.

The Bruins and the St. Louis Blues are tied at two games apiece, with the series shifting to Boston for Game 5 on Thursday night.

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said he would provide a game prognosis for Chara on Thursday, saying only that the 6-foot-9 defenseman had a "facial injury."

Multiple reports emerged Tuesday suggesting Chara had a broken jaw after being hit with a deflected puck in the second period of Game 4. He left the game, got stitches and the trainers did not medically clear him to return, although he sat on the bench in the third period because he wanted to be with teammates.

Cassidy said earlier in the week that Chara might need more dental work later on.

The Bruins are considering several contingency plans if Chara is out, and they do have some encouraging news as defenseman Matt Grzelcyk skated Wednesday -- albeit in a red non-contact jersey. It was the first time Grzelcyk has been with the team on the ice since he was concussed in Game 2 on a hit by Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist.

Cassidy said Grzelcyk is still in concussion protocol, though that status could change on Thursday, meaning Grzelcyk could be available to rejoin the lineup.

"When he gets cleared, he'll be ready to go," Cassidy said. "Whether that's tomorrow or not, I couldn't tell you."

Grzelcyk said he was "feeling good" and "it was nice to join back with the team and get some reps on the ice."

Sundqvist was suspended one game by the NHL for the hit. Grzelcyk, speaking for the first time since the incident, declined to give an opinion on the play.

"The league handled the hit, so I'd rather not comment on it," Grzelcyk said.

Rookie defenseman Urho Vaakanainen also practiced with the main group Wednesday, although Cassidy said it was a "long shot" for Vaakanainen to play. The 20-year-old Finn played in only two regular-season games for the Bruins.

"That would be a big ask," Cassidy said, noting that Vaakanainen, who played a majority of the season in the AHL, has not been around the NHL club much. "A real big ask."

Veteran Steven Kampfer is a more likely candidate to plug in on the blue line. He played in two Stanley Cup playoff games this spring -- and he scored a goal while subbing for the suspended Charlie McAvoy in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"Whoever comes in, it's kind of a seamless transition," Kampfer said. "I think that's been our identity of our team this year -- next man up and making sure that you're ready to go."

Cassidy had floated the idea of suiting up seven defensemen and only 11 forwards, though that seems less likely now. It would probably only happen if Grzelcyk is medically cleared.

"We're almost at the point where we just ask guys to play more minutes," Cassidy said.

The 42-year-old Chara has a goal and four assists with a plus-12 in 20 playoff games this spring. He typically plays on the top pairing with McAvoy and is an important player on the penalty kill. Chara played over 24 minutes in Games 2 and 3.

Patrice Bergeron said he did not see Chara on Wednesday and has not talked to him. Neither did Cassidy, though the coach said the two texted but would not reveal anything about the exchange.

"Things you can't control, it's important not to let them distract you," Bergeron said. "When players are missing, it's up to the others to raise their game. We will see who will be with us tomorrow and who will not be there. Still, for us, the recipe does not change. Our wins are team wins. This is what we're gonna have to do to be successful."

BOSTON -- With an inspiring story and boundless enthusiasm for her St. Louis Blues, 11-year-old Laila Anderson has become a celebrity super fan during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now, she hopes that fame can help support the children's hospital that's helped her battle a rare disease.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee announced on Tuesday that it was producing a doll featuring Anderson, who is fighting hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a syndrome that attacks the immune system and has only been found in 15 other children in the world.

The St. Louis Children's Hospital will receive $5 from every bobblehead sold. The dolls sell for $25 and are available for presale on the Hall of Fame's website.

Hochman: The famous face of Blues fan Laila Anderson is now on a bobblehead https://t.co/lVQSLbeZDN via @stltoday

— National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum (@BobbleheadHall) June 5, 2019

The bobblehead features Laila on a hockey-rink base. She's wearing a jean jacket, as she does to every Blues home game, and is holding a replica of a sign that she brought to a recent playoff game that reads "I'm Here Boys ... Let's Do This, (Love) Laila." There's also a bell she's ringing, which a replica of the one at the children's hospital that young patients ring when they finish their chemotherapy treatment.

"I'm really excited to be having my own bobblehead, especially since they support such a great cause," Anderson said. "Thank you to the St. Louis Blues and to hockey fans everywhere for all the love and support."

Anderson captivated hockey fans in a viral video that the Blues posted before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, when Laila's doctors cleared her to attend the playoff game and her mother surprised her with tickets. She's attended every Blues postseason home game since then, following months of confinement to either her home or the children's hospital after a bone marrow transplant.

Blues players have credited Anderson with inspiring them during their run to the Stanley Cup Final. She's met with them around games, has been featured on the Jumbotron to hype the crowd and even served as a reporter for local television stations to collect postgame quotes.

Defenseman Colton Parayko, who developed a friendship with Anderson in the last several months, said she's "a warrior" for battling through her treatments.

"We get to show up to the rink and be with the guys, do things like that. But you go to the hospital, and you speak with her, and you watch her go through all that stuff. I can't imagine what she's going through. What kinds of things they're putting in her body to try and help her recover," he said before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. "She continues to have a strong attitude. A positive attitude. It's so special. We might lose a hockey game, and we're frustrated or go home really upset. But there are people out there trying to battle for their lives."

The Bobblehead Hall of Fame has previously created charity bobbleheads for inspiring figures like Purdue super fan Tyler Trent and ESPN Special Olympics Analyst Daina Shilts.

Coming into the Stanley Cup Final, the Boston Bruins had an edge on the St. Louis Blues in just about every statistical category. You name it, it leaned toward the Bruins: power play, goaltending, scoring and more.

But the Blues did have one point of advantage, and that was in their defense depth. Through the first three games of the series, the Bruins were dominating the power play, but the Blues controlled play at 5-on-5. And Boston was getting quality shot attempts.

But in Game 4, the Blues forced the Bruins to take worse quality shots from the perimeter, which resulted in a series-tying win. And it could be what turns the series in their favor.

The Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues has gone back and forth between games. Each offensive spurt has been met with a counterpunch. Each loss is followed by a necessary adjustment. No real fireworks (yet), though plenty of players are trying to antagonize opponents. (Exactly how many David Perron wrestling matches have we seen in front of Boston's net? Our unofficial count is three.)

The result? A series tied at two games apiece heading back to Boston for Game 5 on Thursday. Here are seven observations through four games, both on how this series will shake out and how it will affect the NHL on a bigger-picture scale.

This series might be decided by the availability of Boston's defensemen

The Bruins have already been without starting defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (concussion protocol), which has thrust John Moore into the lineup. Now they might be primed for an even bigger blow: losing Zdeno Chara for the rest of the series.

The Athletic reported that Chara suffered a broken jaw after taking a puck to the face in Game 4 -- in which he was not cleared to return for the third period -- and the Bruins should provide a more thorough update after the captain meets with doctors in Boston. Chara had been averaging nearly 22 minutes per night in the postseason and was a big factor on Boston's penalty kill, which has been excellent. (The Bruins recently had a string in which they killed off 19 consecutive power plays, spanning the Eastern Conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.)

"This matchup is not good with Z out, let's face it," coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday. "[The Blues] are a big, heavy team, so we lose that element. But someone else is going to have to step up, and I think we can do it as a group."

There's a chance Grzelcyk can return in this series. Meanwhile, Cassidy floated the idea of dressing seven defensemen because there is no obvious singular replacement for Chara. Steven Kampfer is the most experienced reserve the Bruins have available, and he's played in two playoff games so far, but he's a right-shot defenseman, not left like Chara, so that messes up some pairings. The Bruins could turn to youngsters: Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril and Jeremy Lauzon are all left-handed shots, but they have very limited NHL experience (20 combined games among them). This is an area where St. Louis can exploit Boston.

Special teams matter

A team can win a Stanley Cup without exceptional special teams; in fact, the 2011 Bruins had a pretty crummy power play. The Blues have been, at times, a better team at 5-on-5 but lost two of the first three games due to taking a combined 14 penalties (and also being without one of their primary penalty killers, Oskar Sundqvist, in Game 3). Boston's power play is historically good and has the power to deliver big punches. Look no further than Game 3, when Boston went 4-for-4 on the power play ... on only four shots.

The Blues' power play, meanwhile, was almost a liability for them in the Game 4 victory; they couldn't sustain any momentum from it and even gave up a short-handed goal. Credit the Bruins for having an underrated penalty kill, but it's clear that special teams will matter in the outcome of this series.

Binnington, Johansson, Krug will get paid

Rookie sensation Jordan Binnington has been the avatar for the Blues' unflappability in the second half of the season. There's no way St. Louis makes it to this point without the goaltender, and he's up for a new contract this summer. The problem for St. Louis is that there are no obvious comparables for Binnington's next deal. The Blues obviously want to keep him around, but as a by-product of their own success, they'll just have to shell out more money to do so. It's likely the sides settle for a bridge deal if they can't agree on terms.

Boston orchestrated two of the season's best trade-deadline moves in acquiring Charlie Coyle (nine goals these playoffs) and Marcus Johansson (11 points in 19 games). Johansson is a particularly interesting case because he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. His current contract (a shade under $4.6 million this season) was viewed as a value for a top-six forward, but he wasn't producing like one. The Bruins have used Johansson on the third line, and he's flourishing in that role. That could inspire teams to reexamine where he belongs in the lineup come next season. But regardless, his contract value will be much more than what would have been offered a few months ago.

Torey Krug enters unrestricted free agency after next season. Boston knows Krug loves to play for the Bruins, but the team also knows he's due for a raise from the $5.25 million he's making. The 5-foot-9 undrafted defenseman broke into the league because of his offensive prowess, but over the past few years, he's emerged as a standout all-around defenseman and should be paid as such. The Bruins will likely figure something out, but this playoff run has certainly raised Krug's profile. Other usual big spenders might try to get in on the action. It's worth wondering if Krug, a native of Livonia, Michigan, might consider the Detroit Red Wings. On a rebuilding team with new general manager Steve Yzerman, Krug would instantly become the No. 1 defenseman and a piece around whom to build.

A new trend in goalie workloads?

The two goalies left standing in the Final weren't overworked during the regular season. The Bruins lightened Tuukka Rask's load (he also missed some time with injuries and a personal absence) as the Finn started only 45 games this season -- a far cry from his 67 starts in winning the 2014-15 Vezina Trophy. It helped that Boston has an ultracompetent backup in Jaroslav Halak.

Rask was the most outstanding goalie in the first three rounds, leading Boston to the Final with a .942 all-situations save percentage. "I don't know exactly how many games we were going to play Tuukka [in the regular season], but it was definitely going to be less than a typical No. 1," Cassidy said earlier in the playoffs, noting he preferred somewhere around the 50- to 55-start range. "It's been lower than that. I think it's helped him. I don't know how much -- only he can answer that."

Binnington comes in at 30 starts, since he didn't make his debut until late December. That means we'll have the seventh consecutive season with a Stanley Cup-winning goalie making fewer than 60 starts (Braden Holtby led Washington last season after also seeing a decrease in his usual responsibilities, in part because Philipp Grubauer was challenging for the No. 1 role).

Considering teams often try to emulate the most recent Cup winner, we'll start to see teams reexamine their practices. This feels particularly pertinent to a few teams on the cusp. The Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens all overworked their starting goaltenders (60 or more starts for each of them) and might begin looking at contingency plans to lighten the load as soon as next season to keep those guys fresh for playoff time.

There's still a place for heavy hockey

At the end of the Western Conference finals, Sharks coach Peter DeBoer made this observation: "I think the two hardest, heaviest teams are in the Final. Everyone talks about skill and all the small players, and there is room for that, but I don't think it's an accident."

DeBoer is onto something. Yes, the league has been trending shorter and speedier (which was spurred, in part, by the Penguins' back-to-back championship teams), but there's still a place for heavy hockey, especially in the playoffs. The Blues are a tall team -- they have eight players who stand 6-foot-3 or taller. Even though Boston, on average, is a smaller team, the Bruins play a tough brand. Replay any of the first four games, and there's a good chance you'll see these teams beating each other up and shoving each other around.

What does this mean going forward? That the big guys won't be phased out as quickly as we thought. Patrick Maroon had a somewhat disappointing regular season but has been an important presence in the playoffs. In fact, Maroon and the Blues' playoff run could directly boost the value of some other aging, bigger-bodied vets looking for new deals this summer.

Get ready for more retreads

We know what you're thinking: NHL GMs haven't exactly been creative with hirings in the past. In fact, five of the head-coaching vacancies this year were filled by men who already had NHL head-coaching experience.

But Cassidy and Craig Berube's respective successes are going to mean this trend won't end anytime soon. Consider that when Berube was fired in Philadelphia in 2015, his future as a head coach looked bleak. His two-year stint was unmemorable, and then-GM Ron Hextall categorized Berube as a coach who couldn't get the most out of his players. The Blues gave Berube a chance when they needed a replacement in the middle of this season. He maintained a similar style, and this time it worked (or the circumstance was right). Berube instilled the right confidence to help his players out of a funk. What's more, people in the league have been lauding Berube for the way he guided his team past the hand-pass fiasco in the Western Conference finals.

Cassidy was also a flameout in his first stint behind the bench. Much younger and in Washington, his tenure ended because he was clearly out of his depth. He lost the locker room and struggled to communicate with some players. "I was young. I had really no NHL experience," Cassidy said recently. "So you walk into an NHL locker room and there's still a little bit of awe in that." He rehabbed his reputation as an assistant, and then in the AHL, and appears much more prepared this time around.

Seeing these two coaches thrive will likely inspire the next round of hiring, so chin up, all you coaches out there looking for a second chance!

All is quiet now, but expect some officiating reform

With the exception of Berube complaining that his team was getting called for too many penalties, we haven't heard too much about officiating in the Stanley Cup Final so far. Let's not forget, though, that officiating controversies consumed everyone -- in and out of the league -- for the first six weeks of the playoffs. So much so that commissioner Gary Bettman showed rare candor in his pre-Stanley Cup Final news conference, explaining he was just as frustrated as fans by missed calls and rule-book loopholes when it comes to video review.

"It would be good if I kept my head from exploding," Bettman said of the uncalled hand-pass play that marred the San Jose-St. Louis series.

So even if we make it through this final week without any controversy, don't think the conversation about expanding video review will go away anytime soon. Change should come next season in some form. The competition committee is scheduled to meet June 11 in Toronto, and the next GMs meeting will be June 20, ahead of the draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. A resolution could be announced shortly after that.

Diego Maradona has told Manchester United he is the man to help restore them to former glories following a desperate campaign that ended trophyless, while rivals Manchester City and Liverpool won major silverware.

United have not won the title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and Maradona, coaching Dorados in the Mexican second division, believes he is the man to change their fortunes.

"If Manchester [United] need a coach, I'm the man to do it," Maradona told FourFourTwo. "I know they sell lots of shirts around the world, but they need to win trophies, too. I can do that for them."

Maradona, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 1986, had a spell in charge of the national team between 2008 and 2010.

The 58-year-old admits to having a soft spot for United but revealed they have now been overtaken by City.

"Manchester United used to be my favourite English team for so long," he said. "So many great players and a great team under Alex Ferguson.

"But now I have to say Man City. I know you shouldn't change like that but it's because of Kun [Aguero]. We speak a lot and he plays in a very good team.

"With United I liked Ander Herrera. Paul Pogba? Doesn't work hard enough."

Virgil van Dijk has told Liverpool he wants to sign a new contract with the club, sources have told ESPN FC.

The world's most expensive defender signed a five-and-a-half-year deal upon his £75 million switch from Southampton in January 2018, but is already enthusiastic about further solidifying his commitment to the Champions League winners.

- When does the transfer window close?

The 27-year-old made the declaration to the club well in advance of Liverpool's 2-0 win over Tottenham in Madrid, which saw them add a sixth European Cup -- the first trophy of the Jurgen Klopp era.

Given the length of Van Dijk's deal as well the relentless intensity of the final months of the season, neither party were in a rush to formally begin negotiations. That is still the case with the centre-back now on Nations League duty with Netherlands.

Both Liverpool and the player's agent, Neil Fewings of Wasserman, are relaxed about the process as there is confidence that terms will eventually be thrashed out with minimal fuss.

Van Dijk is already among the highest earners at Anfield and his status within the squad is reflected by the dressing room selecting him as the third captain behind Jordan Henderson and James Milner. Named the PFA Player of the Season, Netherlands' captain is expected to be a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or, which hasn't been won by a defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

- When are the Premier League fixtures published?
- When does the new Premier League season start?
- Who qualifies for Europe from the Premier League?

Tying down the standout performer would be a continuation of Liverpool's policy of investing to keep their core intact and ensuring a pathway is open for their next generation rather than spending blockbuster fees this summer.

Naturally, the club would act if a top target was available on acceptable terms, but the priority has been ensuring continuity in the squad as well as adding depth.

Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Henderson, Sadio Mane, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all signed new contracts in the last year, with Joel Matip and Milner also due to be rewarded with fresh terms.

Meanwhile, Klopp could take a year's sabbatical at the end of his Liverpool contract in 2022 and while the club's owners are hopeful he will commit to an extension, they are minded not to put pressure on him, sources have told ESPN FC.

Paris Saint-Germain have said goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has left the club after 12 months in Ligue 1.

The former Italy international joined the French side last summer after 17 seasons with Juventus and won the Trophee des Champions and Ligue 1 title.

However, he and PSG suffered defeat in the Coupe de France final, while the 41-year-old was in goal for the disappointing 3-1 home loss to Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16 which saw them bow out of the competition.

"Thank you all for everything I have had the opportunity to experience in Paris," Buffon said. "Thank you for the emotions that we have shared together.

"Twelve months ago, I arrived at Paris Saint-Germain filled with enthusiasm, welcomed by the incredible warmth of the fans. It was really moving. Thank you, once again, from the bottom of my heart. I leave happy to have enjoyed this experience which has undoubtedly helped me to grow.

"Today my adventure outside Italy comes to an end. I would like to thank the chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the whole club and my teammates. I wish you all the best, convinced that together you will write the pages of a wonderful story. Ernest Hemingway wrote that there are only two places in the world where people can live happily: at home and in Paris. Today onwards, this will also apply to me: Paris, in some way, will always remain my home. -- Allez Paris! Thank you and good luck with everything!"

Club chairman and CEO Al-Khelaifi added: "I will never forget the pride that everyone at Paris Saint-Germain, both the club and the fans, felt when they saw Gianluigi Buffon wearing our jersey,.

"For the first time in his fabulous career, Gianluigi had made the brave choice to leave Italy, struck by our ambitious and modern project. During his time at PSG he brought his phenomenal experience and his sense of professionalism not only to his teammates but also to all areas of the club. We will miss his warm and open personality here at the club.

"'Gigi' will forever remain among the football giants who have worn the Paris Saint-Germain colours and shared the values of the club. We will be honoured to welcome him again next year, along with other former players, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our club."

View this post on Instagram

?? Ernest Hemingway ha scritto che "ci sono solo due posti al mondo dove possiamo vivere felicemente: a casa e a Parigi". Da oggi per me queste due cose un po' coincideranno. Parigi, a suo modo, sarà per sempre anche un po' casa. Grazie per ciò che ho avuto la possibilità di vivere. Grazie per l'accoglienza, le emozioni e le fatiche vissute assieme. Uno vicino all'altro. Compagni di lavoro, di squadra e di viaggio. 12 mesi fa sono arrivato pieno di entusiasmo, accolto dall'incredibile calore dei tifosi. Mi avete commosso. Grazie ancora con tutto il cuore. Riparto più ricco e soddisfatto di un'esperienza che mi ha certamente migliorato e fatto crescere ulteriormente. Oggi si conclude questa mia avventura fuori dall'Italia: il @psg mi ha proposto un rinnovo di contratto che non mi sono sentito di accettare spinto dal desiderio di prepararmi a nuove esperienze umane e nuove sfide professionali. Ringrazio il Presidente Nasser, i dirigenti e tutti i miei compagni di squadra che mi hanno regalato tanti giorni di spensierata giovinezza. Vi auguro il meglio convinto che continuerete a scrivere insieme le pagine di questa importante storia. Allez Paris! Merci e bonne chance pour tout! ?? Ernest Hemingway écrit qu'il n'y a que deux endroits au monde où l'on puisse vivre heureux : chez soi et à Paris. Depuis aujourd'hui, ça vaudra pour moi aussi. Paris, en quelque manière, sera toujours un peu chez moi. Merci pour tout ce que j'ai eu la possibilité de vivre. Merci pour l'accueil, les émotions et les fatigues éprouvées ensemble. L'un à côté de l'autre. Compagnons de travail, d'équipe et de voyage. Il y a 12 mois j'arrivais plein d'enthousiasme, accueilli par l'incroyable chaleur des supporters. C'était vraiment émouvant. Merci, encore une fois, de tout mon cœur. Je repars enrichi et satisfait par une expérience qui sans doute m'a amélioré et m'a fait croître. Aujourd'hui se termine mon aventure hors de l'Italie : le Paris Saint-Germain m'a proposé de renouveler mon contrat mais je ne me suis pas senti d'accepter, poussé par le désir d'affronter des nouvelles expériences...

A post shared by Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) on Jun 5, 2019 at 8:33am PDT

Buffon, who made 25 appearances for PSG across all competitions hinted in an Instagram post that he will return to his native Italy and claimed to have rejected the contract extension offered by PSG.

"Today my adventure outside Italy comes to an end," he wrote. "PSG proposed a contract renewal that I did not feel ready to accept, pushed by my desire to prepare for new personal experiences and new professional challenges."

Buffon has been linked with a return to formative club Parma, as well as the goalkeeping coach role with Juventus.

The woman accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of raping her has shifted the venue for her legal charges against the football superstar, dropping her case in Nevada state court but filing identical charges against Ronaldo in federal court, according to her attorney.

Several news media outlets reported early Wednesday that the charges filed by Kathryn Mayorga, who alleges that Ronaldo raped her in 2009, had been "quietly dropped," implying that the case was over.

But Larissa Drohobyczer, who is one of Mayorga's attorneys, told ESPN that the change of venue was simply a response to the difficulty that the lawyers have had in serving Ronaldo, who lives in Italy, with notice of the state lawsuit.

"The charges were not dropped," Drohobyczer told ESPN. "The state case was dismissed by us because we filed the identical claims in federal court due to federal court's rules on serving foreigners. We basically just switched venues, but the claims remain."

A source said that Ronaldo's agency, Gestifute, was not aware that the state case was dropped.

Mayorga says that Ronaldo raped her during an encounter in a hotel penthouse suite, then paid her $375,000 to keep quiet about it. Last year, Mayorga filed a lawsuit saying the previous settlement was invalid and that Ronaldo violated its terms anyway. Ronaldo's Las Vegas-based lawyer, Peter Christiansen, did not return a message seeking comment on Wednesday. Ronaldo has previously denied the allegations against him.

The Las Vegas police are also investigating potential criminal charges against Ronaldo, and that investigation remains open.