Big Meets Bigger: Matthews vs. Chara a perfect match as rivalry renews

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

Hockey fans will get that answer when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins begin their opening-round playoff series thanks to the matchup between Auston Matthews and Zdeno Chara.

Due to injuries, the two stars laced up in just one game against each other this season, but in that Feb. 3 meeting, Chara went to work. Matthews was held pointless in a 4-1 loss, one of just a handful of games this season in which he failed to pick up a point.

It's no secret that the Maple Leafs superstar is most dangerous in front of the opponent's net, and since the Arizona native is as skilled a playmaker as he is a goal-scorer, his creativity makes him even more difficult to defend.

Shutting him down is a role Chara relishes, as the hulking greybeard can still neutralize oncoming attacks thanks to his intensity and tremendous reach.

When the veteran defenseman is on the ice, it's especially difficult for opponents to get shots from Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask's doorstep.

Still, it's not all bad news for Matthews; as strong as Chara's performance has been in front of the cage, his shot-suppression abilities dip below the league average further out between the dots. That leaves plenty of dangerous areas for the forward.

Round 1 of Matthews versus Chara begins Thursday in Boston.

(Charts courtesy: HockeyViz.com)