Boston Bruins’ Bergeron is motivated and hungry for the Cup.
Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) on the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Boston Bruins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
We’re fans of the Boston Bruins. We love this team, and we’ve really been spoiled these last few years. This team keeps going back to the playoffs, and has skated in the Stanley Cup Finals twice in the last three years. One of our strongest weapons on the ice for us is Patrice Bergeron. Hockey fans who hate Boston can agree that Bergeron is one of the best two-way players on the ice today. He smart, he’s dedicated, and he nearly skated himself to death trying to get us the Cup last season.
# 37 is ready to pick up right where he left off last season. Training camp is scheduled to start tomorrow, and while he hasn’t undergone full contact to test the extent of his healing, he’s just moving on to the next step for Boston.
Even with the massive roller coaster ride the Bruins have been on these last few seasons, the team is still committed to be professional players who will go out there and make yet another serious challenge to the other twenty nine teams in the league in order to take the Stanley Cup back to Boston. Bergeron, as their assistant captain will help lead his team there. That team will be more than motivated, and Bergy knows it.
“I mean, every year that you don’t necessarily accomplish what you’re there for, it’s always motivation — extra motivation — that should help you the next year.” said Bergeron yesterday. “I think the previous year [in 2012] was different losing in the first round. Obviously it was a different and very bitter feeling knowing that we could’ve gone a lot further. Last year, we’ve gone all the way but we came up short. And obviously I think it hurts even more because you’re so close. … I think refocusing is very important also. We can’t really think too much about last year, but we need to use that as motivation for sure.”
Bergeron said he’s still a little tender in the ribs. “I still feel it in the rib area,” admitted Bergeron. “It’s more about rotations and when I do core stuff, but I don’t think there are any limitations in any way. It’s about pain management at this point. Time will heal it, and make it better.” Other than that, Bergeron has recovered from the punctured lung, separated shoulder and rib injuries that he sustained throughout the playoffs but continued to play through in a near-Herculean effort to win the Stanley Cup last season. Bergeron and the trainers are very sure he’ll be at 100% when the puck drops in just twenty three days at the TD Garden.