Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron participated in an optional morning skate today and will be a game-time decision tonight, said NBC Sports Boston’s Ty Anderson.
Bergeron, 37, hasn’t suited up in the playoffs, missing four games with an illness and upper-body injury. It hasn’t slowed the Bruins down much, though, as they’re in position to advance to the Second Round tonight with a win in Game 5. The skill and calming presence of Bergeron certainly boosts their chances.
If Bergeron does return to the lineup tonight, he’ll do so with some different linemates. After spending most of the regular season positioned between Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk on the team’s first line, Bergeron took line rushes between Tyler Bertuzzi and David Pastrňák yesterday.
More from the Eastern Conference this morning:
- While the team may get Bergeron back tonight, they won’t have David Krejčí’s services. He’s been ruled out for Game 5, head coach Jim Montgomery said. The veteran playmaker had a strong performance in Game 1 of the series, recording an assist, but had a rough Game 2 (no points, -3 rating) and missed Games 3 and 4 with an upper-body injury. It means additional usage for his countryman, Pavel Zacha, who has four assists in four games against Florida.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t in the playoffs, but they did make a roster move yesterday. After a scary injury that kept him out for the last few weeks of the season, Nick Bonino was taken off long-term injured reserve yesterday, CapFriendly reports. After re-joining the Penguins at the trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks, the veteran suffered a lacerated kidney in his third game with the team and missed the final 18 games of the season. The 35-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.