BRIGHTON -- One doesn’t accomplish as much as Patrice Bergeron has without being ultra-competitive, so missing the playoffs over the last couple of seasons certainly didn’t sit well with No. 37.
Unmistakable proof: Video footage of Bergeron vocally challenging his teammates on the bench during TV timeouts during the ugly final game of last season as the Bruins got hammered by an already eliminated Ottawa team that didn’t have a single thing to play for.
But optimism has replaced disappointment with the regular season just days away.
“I think the young guys are gaining experience and getting better from one day to the other,” said Bergeron. “The guys that we’re adding like David Backes, who is not only playing amazing but also is a great leader, and great for us in the room. I’m excited about it. From what I’ve seen so far we have great team chemistry, and that’s the most important thing when you step on the ice. If we have each other’s back then that makes a big difference.
“We want to be better defensively, and keep the offense that we had last year, and kind of go from there. We always played the game under [coach Claude Julien's] system, which is really smart and good defensively. We have to get back to that.”
Bergeron should be primed for a big start after playing at playoff-level of intensity for Team Canada while winning a championship at the World Cup of Hockey. Now it’s time for Bergeron, and the other World Cup players on Boston’s roster, to help the B's get off to a fast start, one that could make people truly believe this year will be different than the last couple of disappointing seasons in Boston.