Habs fans surprise everyone and offers warming tribute to Chara

Boston Bruins star defenseman Zdeno Chara is taking part in his 1500th NHL career game tonight against the Canadiens, however, the contest is taking place in Montreal.

While we are sure the Bruins will take the time to congratulate Chara at home, the Canadiens decided to acknowledge this milestone at centre ice with a short tribute and - believe it or not - Chara received a warm applause from the Montreal crowd.

Chara has been hated in Montreal, not only for being a fierce opponent, but mostly for crushing former captain Max Pacioretty into the turnbuckle of the boards back in 2011, leaving him for dead on the ice. We all remember that day.

However, Canadiens fans decided to forget for a brief moment and shocked the hockey world by giving Chara a classy moment at the Bell Centre. The defenseman himself was shocked by their reactions.

Zdeno Chara’s 1,500th NHL game is acknowledged and met with polite applause at the Bell Centre which, in this building for this guy, is the equivalent of a five-minute standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/Z7f6MV4X5u
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) November 6, 2019

En général, une belle réaction des partisans pour le 1500e match dans la LNH pour Zdeno Chara. Un geste de classe de la part du CH. pic.twitter.com/ULRL0I6yHB
— J-F Chaumont (@JFChaumontJDM) November 6, 2019

Never thought I would ever see the day Zdeno Chara would get a standing ovation in Montreal.
— Shannon M. Moore (@ShanarchyM) November 6, 2019

Classy gesture by the #Habs & the fans at the Bell Centre to give #Bruins captain Zdeno Chara a warm ovation to honour his 1500th #NHL game.
— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) November 6, 2019

Maybe fans have also let go on the anger ever since Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Who knows?