The Boston Bruins have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final with a 4-0 win, sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes. The man who led the charge on offense was the best two-way player in the game and unofficial captain, Patrice Bergeron.
Patrice Bergeron had two goals and an assist to help power the Boston Bruins to the final.
In the second period with the Bruins up one and on the power-play, Bergeron would net a give-and-go pass from David Pastrnak to put the Bruins up 2-0.
This would be Bergeron’s seventh goal of the playoffs, his sixth on a power play, that has been far and above the best in the playoffs to this point.
Being the centrepiece to the best power-play will more than likely be overlooked by many hockey analysts due to the heroics of Tuukka Rask, but his big game gene is something that is unmatched.
Patrice Bergeron coming through in a series-clinching game is no surprise and his success continues to put smiles on Boston Bruins fans’ faces simply because how great he continues to be.
Bergeron would only continue the aura around his greatness when he would receive another great pass from David Pastrnak to make it 3-0 as the first line showed their dominance, especially Patrice.
Whether it was potting his two goals or getting back on the defensive side with strong penalty-kill abilities or back-checks, that could make opponents want to quit – this was Patrice Bergeron’s most complete game all play-offs long for the Boston Bruins.
The ability of the first-line to connect tonight was certainly incredible after only having six points combined prior to tonight. With Brad Marchand and Pastrnak hooking up for the first and then Bergeron netting the next two, it was impossible for the Canes to stop them tonight.
That leadership poured through after the game as well. After the game, talking to Brian Boucher, he would answer Boucher when he asked about the time off they would be getting by saying:
"“We have to use it the right way obviously. Healing the body, it’s a lot of hockey. We all know playoff hockey is a grind, lot of work in front of us. So, lets enjoy this now but then back to work.”"
To avoid the fate of the other teams who have swept their opponents in these playoffs is the goal now and Patrice Bergeron sees that.
With lots of rest coming, he knows the boys need it but at the same time he is already to get back to work. That is why Patrice Bergeron is such a great leader and player, not afraid to let the boys know there is nothing to be happy about yet.
An all-around awesome team win by the Boston Bruins as Bergeron and company do enough to ice the game and the series, as this decades best two-way player helps lead his team to their third Stanley Cup Final of the decade.