Chara (upper body) won't play Thursday versus Columbus, but coach Barry Trotz expects the 44-year-old blueliner to return to action Friday against the Jets, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chara may have been able to play Thursday if the Islanders weren't in the front half of a back-to-back set, so he'll wait until Friday to rejoin the lineup to presumably avoid aggravating his upper-body injury. The towering blueliner has tallied eight assists through 45 contests this season.