The Bruins will have to soldier on without captain Patrice Bergeron for the third straight playoff game when the series shifts down to Sunrise on Friday night. Barring something unforeseen, they’ll have to do the same in Sunday’s Game 4, too, as Bergeron did not join the team for their flight down to Florida.

But Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery did have some seemingly good news when it came to Bergeron’s status for the now-certain Game 5 next Wednesday at TD Garden.

“We believe Game 5 is likely,” Montgomery said of Bergeron’s potential return to action.

• The decision not to bring Bergeron down to Florida on the team charter came following a Wednesday off day that saw Bergeron skating on his own for the second day in a row, and running through some skating drills with B’s staffers.

  Given the quick turnaround of the game compared to Bergeron’s progress — Bergeron had yet to take part in a skate with teammates or take any contact — Game 3 admittedly seemed like a bit of a long shot for all involved.

  But having more of a timeline following Wednesday’s skate is undeniably encouraging.

• Bergeron skating on his own at Warrior this morning
  🎥: ⁦@Pats_Radio⁩ pic.twitter.com/6dKmPWc2hK

  — Zolak & Bertrand (@ZoandBertrand) April 20, 2023

• Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Montgomery acknowledged that Bergeron’s game availability has been a collaborative decision made between both the coaching staff, the trainers, and Bergeron himself, and that the 37-year-old has remained positive throughout the process.

  “That’s a human being, that doesn’t get rattled,” Montgomery said. “He’s holding up great. He carries himself with such [confidence]. His confidence, it gives energy to everybody else that everything’s okay. You know what I mean? That’s just the way he carries himself. On good days, bad days, you wouldn’t know it.

  “Obviously, he’s in real good spirits mentally and physically. Just wishes he could be on the ice with us right now.”

• 

  Apr 13, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (37) plays the puck behind the Montreal Canadiens net during the first period at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports)

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