BRIGHTON -- Patrice Bergeron is suffering from “a minor injury . . . not a major injury,” according to coach Claude Julien and -- though he'll miss Thursday's season opener in Columbus -- could be available for the last two games of the Bruins' beginning-of-the-year road trip.
Bergeron didn't practice with the B's on Wednesday, not did he speak at Bruins Media Day on Tuesday. The team says he's suffering from a "lower-body injury," which he presumably incurred at practice Tuesday morning.
Captain Zdeno Chara admitted it will be tough for the Bruins to be without “our best player”, and will immediately test their depth, character and resiliency .
“It’s obvious Patrice is our best player," he said. "Anytime you’re missing a guy that like that who plays in all the situations and all of the important moments of the game, it’s a challenge. But at the same time we have to find a way to play without him. Those kinds of things do happen in hockey. You wish they wouldn’t, but when they do its unfortunate.
“You never like to miss guys . . . especially before the season even starts. But when they do happen that’s something that is test for the group to come together, bounce [back] and find the energy and anything that’s possible to play well and be effective.”
David Backes will slide into Bergeron's spot between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, while rookie Danton Heinen will be elevated to top-line right wing alongside Ryan Spooner and David Krejci. It will probably be the Backes’ lot in life this season to bounce between center and wing, depending on the circumstances, and it was something he was looking forward to after ostensibly signing with the B’s to give Bergeron a little more help in all areas.
“I think we spoke to the depth in camp and the tough decisions the coaches were forced with [watching] so many capable players,” said Backes. “Now we get to test that a little bit earlier than we would have hoped, but hopefully he’ll be back sooner rather than later. We’ll have to all pick up some of the load that he carries, which is a huge load for this team. They spread that over a few guys, and we’ll manage until he gets back.”
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Austin Czarnik is now expected to play after suffering, and recovering from, a concussion last weekend in the preseason finale loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Also, New Hampshire native Tim Schaller has been recalled from the P-Bruins as the first official recall of the NHL season.
Despite the B’s protestations that the Bergeron injury is minor, nobody would blame Bruins fans if they’re feeling a bit of uncomfortable déjà vu. Krejci injured his hip a couple of years ago in the final preseason game and that “minor injury” lingered for two years, ultimately requiring surgery last April after he aggravated it last season.
Either way, this is not the way the B’s envisioned starting the season while attempting to get off the strong opening kick that totally eluded them in the first few games last year.