Patrice Bergeron clarifies exactly what happened with latest injury scare
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron’s headfirst smack into the boards following an awkward-looking tangle with the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby was enough to leave you wincing.
It didn’t get any better when Bergeron stayed down, and eventually made his way down the tunnel and back to Boston room and didn’t return by the night’s end. Same for when the Bruins ruled Bergeron out and outright said that they’d be taking as much time necessary to make sure that their do-it-all center would return to action at full, complete, 100 percent health. Given Bergeron’s history, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots that nobody outright wanted to say for one reason or another.
But speaking with the media for the first time since the injury, and after a successful Wednesday practice with the club in New York City, Bergeron confirmed that he did not suffer a concussion on the tumble.
“When I hit my head on the boards there, I got a laceration on the back of my head,” Bergeron said. “I just needed some time to get some stitches. And it was swollen, so I just needed some time.”
And the time off for the 36-year-old Bergeron, who is in the final year of his contract and is looking at his situation on a year-to-year basis, didn’t come with any long-term concerns about his health.
“I felt good,” Bergeron offered. “It’s one of those things, you hit your head and you ask yourself many questions. I’ve been through it before, and everything felt fine. It was more a matter of taking time with the cut and the team and trainers wanted to make sure everything was back to normal before I was heading back on the ice [and] into games.
“Extra precaution on the part of the doctors, and I appreciate that.”
That approach is looking like one that will pay off for the Bruins, too, with No. 37 currently penciled into tomorrow’s lineup.
“Looked good, ready to go,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked about Bergeron’s status for Thursday night against the Islanders. “He should be in. We’ll have to take a forward out, [so] we’ll make that decision tomorrow. But right now, he’ll go in, play with Hall and Pasta, and [Erik] Haula will drop down.”
Bergeron, who has been the league’s top faceoff threat in 2021-22 at 63.3 percent at the dot, has tallied 12 goals and 35 points in 43 games this season.
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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
