By Tommy McArdle
The Boston Bostons’ victory against the Vancouver Canucks Thursday saw top center Patrice Bergeron enter Boston’s lineup for the first time this season. Bergeron scored four points that night, three assists and a goal in the third period that brought the game to 6-3. Bergeron’s return to the lineup provided a few brief moments that prove how dangerous Boston’s forwards can be with his added presence. Rookie winger Anders Bjork added two goals to his impressive early season, and second-line center David Krejci scored off a Patrice Bergeron rebound before Krejci left the game after playing only 8:21 in the first period.
Late game struggles result in overtime loss against Buffalo
On Saturday, the Bruins marched into battle against division rival Buffalo without Krejci, without Adam McQuaid, and without Kevan Miller. Defenseman Paul Postma drew into the lineup for the first time this season, while second-year pro Rob O’Gara earned a one-game call-up to the NHL. Both played limited minutes in a game that the Bruins dominated for forty minutes; Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak each provided two goals that gave the Bruins a comfortable two-goal lead at the start of the third period. Where Boston’s game against Vancouver showed a lethal Bruins team, Saturday’s game showed a team that in the 2017-2018 season, even under a new coach, still struggles with completing sixty-minute effort. The Bruins gave up three straight goals in the third period and overtime that were the result of poor defensive play and poor positioning by goaltender Anton Khudobin and left the game with only one point to show for it.
McQuaid out for 8 weeks
Adam McQuaid broke his right fibula during Thursday’s game against the Canucks after taking two shots to his leg during a single shift. McQuaid was scheduled for surgery on Monday and is expected to miss eight weeks of the season. McQuaid’s injury is the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued the 31-year-old over the course of his career. Though fans have come to think of both McQuaid and Kevan Miller as ‘redundant’ on Boston’s defense, McQuaid remains the team’s most experienced defenseman after Zdeno Chara and provides solid, if not spectacular, work in the defensive zone. Paul Postma will have his work cut out for him while he steps in to replace McQuaid.
Rask recovers from concussion, could start Thursday vs. San Jose
Tuukka Rask suffered a concussion in a collision with Anders Bjork last Wednesday and missed Boston’s games against Vancouver and Buffalo while he worked his way through the NHL’s concussion protocols. Rask returned to practice on Tuesday and could be minding the Bruins goal again as soon as this Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, though it’s most likely the Bruins allow him a few more days of rest until Saturday night’s game against the LA Kings.
Miller, Krejci remain out
Defenseman Kevan Miller and center David Krejci both are listed as day-to-day and week-to-week respectively with upper body injuries. Miller appears to be closer to an appearance on Thursday against San Jose than Krejci, who has not practiced the last few days and was re-evaluated on Tuesday. The pair’s absence from the roster has left the Bruins again without a full lineup.
Next 7 days at a glance:
Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. vs. San Jose Sharks
Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. vs. LA Kings
Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at Columbus Blue Jackets
Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. vs. Vegas Golden Knights
