Jun 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) sits on the bench in front of head coach Claude Julien during the first period in game five of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
The waiting game continues, but at least for now the Boston Bruins and their fans still have hope that center Patrice Bergeron will dress and play in Monday night’s must-win game 6 for the Bruins.
Bergeron left game 5 in the second period and didn’t return, he was eventually taken to the hospital in an ambulance and was offered a stretcher but reportedly chose to walk under his own power.
He was discharged from the hospital early the next morning and flew home with his teammates, the Bruins then listed Bergeron as “day-to-day” with an upper-body injury.
Fast-forward to today, just a day after being released from the hospital, and Bergeron is expected to dress for the pregame skate before he and the team make a decision on whether or not he’ll play tonight. “Patrice will dress for warmup tonight,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said, “I’m feeling confident he will play.”
Whether or not Bergeron can actually play or even be effective if he plays at all remains to be seen, obviously the team is better with him in the lineup but I believe they can win without him and they have before. One man doesn’t make or break this team, the sum always has been and always will be greater than the parts.
If Bergeron indeed can’t go, then someone else will just have to step up and there are plenty of guys on this roster capable of doing just that.