Boston Bruins Suffer Key Injuries In Loss To Washington
The Boston Bruins had two of their best players injured in their 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. While not serious, those injuries are only making it harder for the Black and Gold.
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Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron left the locker room with a serious limp after Wednesday night’s game. The Bruins alternate captain blocked a Matti Niskanen slap shot during the third period of the B’s game against the Capitals. The shot landed on the inside of Bergeron’s right knee. Bergeron spent very little time on the ice after that hit.
Bergeron usually is a mainstay in the post-game media conferences. After the 5-3 loss, Bergeron’s presence was conspicuously absent. Claude Julien spoke of the condition to the media after the game.
“We’ll know more [tomorrow]. He obviously tried to come back, so we hope that it’s better than worse,” offered Julien on Bergeron’s condition. “We’ll evaluate it as we move on here.”
The loss of Bergeron is rough. Even for a few games. While Bergeron’s production has been limited, he has done many things for the team that don’t reflect on the scoreboard. He’s been an excellent set-up man for both David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. Any absence will be keenly felt by the Black and Gold.
Bergeron wasn’t the only key injury to occur on Wednesday. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask suffered a groin injury while making a save in the third period. While Rask finished out the game, it was clear he was as shaken up as Bergeron was. By letting in five goals on 22 shots, Rask looked more like Anton Khudobin on the ice on Wednesday night.
While Rask looked battered, he assured the media he wasn’t as badly banged up as it appeared.
“Yeah, I’m alright,” shared Rask with the media (as it was reported on NESN). “I just popped my groin a little bit, but it’s nothing major.”
If the Bruins want to make the playoffs, they’ll need everyone at their best. If the injuries happened to Jimmy Hayes and Austin Czarnik, it would be bad enough. But with Rask and Bergeron hurt, it will certainly affect the B’s dwindling playoff chances. Currently, the B’s chances of making the playoffs are slightly better than one in three (35.7%)
Bergeron and Rask won’t have to play again until they take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. This still gives the B’s two nights to rest up before the game. Still it’s bad news for the Black and Gold. The B’s don’t appear to have any choice but to wear down Rask as Khudobin and Zane McIntyre haven’t appeared capable of picking up the slack.
Hopefully, Bergeron’s injury isn’t as bad as it looks.