Patrice Bergeron has yet to suit up for a Boston Bruins game this season, and it may be longer than we anticipated before we see the alternate captain on the ice.
Bergeron sustained a lower-body injury at the end of the preseason, and Bruins brass did not elaborate any further on the injury. He’s been categorized as day-to-day since the season started, but his lack of full participation at practice indicates an injury that may not be as innocuous as first presumed. To add to that, Joe Haggerty reported on Tuesday that Bergeron’s injury was not “responding” well to its treatment; this concept of treatment came with the announcement that Bergeron would not be playing in Wednesday’s game at Colorado.
On Sunday, Bergeron wore a merlot no-contact jersey at practice, but was with the team. Monday and Tuesday, though, he did not skate—Monday was a matinee with no practice to be present at, and Tuesday Bergeron just was not there. Wednesday, however, he was. He climbed out to skate on Warrior Ice Arena in a white jersey at the end of practice, just “testing it again,” according to Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy aims to have him play during the weekend on the B’s road trip out west, but the fact that Danton Heinen has been brought up for the road trip too isn’t a good omen. Other than the weekend, Cassidy had no real time table; “if [Bergeron’s skating] goes well, he’ll go out again tomorrow and continue on that path until he’s ready to go.”
Riley Nash makes a first-line return
In the meantime, Riley Nash has been slotting into Bergeron’s spot in the lineup. Nash made his 2017-2018 season debut by taking Bergeron’s spot in the power play the first two games, with Spooner playing center on the first line. On Wednesday, though, Cassidy decided to made Nash the full-time Bergeron—he skated centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, while Ryan Spooner has returned to the third line.
The 28-year-old played a full season with Boston last year, missing only one game. He had seventeen points at the end of the season and was a minus-1, but also had two assists in the series against Ottawa last spring.
Nash – as well as his coaching staff that put him there – thinks he can do his predecessor justice.
“Those guys are pretty creative,” Nash said on his new linemates, which he feels is a personal attribute that bodes well. “”When I’m at my best, I’m thinking more about creativity and not inside the box, but trying to make plays.”
Acciari and Backes placed on IR
The Bruins announced on Monday two losses that would last at least a month: forwards Noel Acciari and David Backes.
Acciari broke his finger halfway through the first game of the season against the Predators, leaving the game upon injury.
Saturday the Bruins announced that Acciari underwent surgery, revealing it was a broken finger he left the game for, and that recovery time for the surgery is about five to six weeks.
Backes missed opening night completely due to illness, and the Bruins made a statement on their power forward during the first intermission of that game. Backes was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an inflammation of the colon, and will be out for three to four weeks.
On Monday, the Bruins announced that both forwards were placed on injured reserve, allowing the team to call up Danton Heinen and host Ryan White on a PTO.
Next 7 days at a glance
Saturday, Oct. 14, at 9 p.m. at. Arizona Coyotes
Sunday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. at Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. vs Vancouver Canucks
