Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron “likely” will return to the lineup for Game 5 of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Florida Panthers, coach Jim Montgomery said Friday.
Bergeron remains in Boston as he continues to deal with an upper-body injury that has prevented him from playing in the first two games of the best-of-seven series.
The teams each have recorded a win heading into Game 3 on Friday night in Sunrise, Fla. Game 4 is Sunday afternoon before the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Charlie Coyle centered the first line alongside Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic during Friday’s morning skate. Pavel Zacha was grouped with David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall on the second line, while David Krejci joined Tyler Bertuzzi and Jake DeBrusk on the third line.
Bergeron, 37, sustained his injury in the first period during the regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens.
“We wanted — I wanted and Bergy wanted — the last two games to ramp up to get in a rhythm for the playoffs,” Montgomery said. “Life happens, you know? Unfortunately tweaked something in that last game. Even with the hindsight we would still do it exactly the same way.
“That’s how it’s easy to move forward when you have no regret with what you did because it was a well-thought-out plan.”
The five-time Selke Trophy winner registered 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 78 games this season, his 19th with the Bruins. Bergeron ranks third in franchise history in points (1,040), goals (427) and games (1,294).
–Field Level Media
