Bergy back in control
Vet dominates season debut
With all due respect to other individuals who were missing from the Bruins’ picture during the first two weeks of the season, there was one absence that tended to reduce the disappointment and concern over the team’s lackluster start.
Before anyone judged the Bruins too harshly over three bad performances in the first five games, you wanted to remind them, they needed to wait and see what happened when Patrice Bergeron came back.
He answered that question very convincingly last night.
“It’s incredible,” said linemate Brad Marchand, “the way he came back and dominated the game.”
In his first game of the young season after suffering an unknown injury, Bergeron merely collected one goal and three assists, as the B’s got a win they needed badly, 6-3, against the Vancouver Canucks.
For the 32-year-old, it was a milestone game — his 900th in the regular season. And his four points gave him 675 in his career, jumping him past Ken Hodge for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
How many ways did he impact his team?
“I think it was kind of selfevident out there,” said B’s coach Bruce Cassidy. “Play on the ice, first of all, to (allow the B’s to) able to match up against whoever we really want. The power play, obviously; (he had a) big impact there.”
One goal and one assist came during man-up play, as the B’s went 4-for-8 on the man-advantage.
But beyond the tangible scoresheet contributions, Bergeron did much more to contribute.
“I think it’s just morale as much as anything — on the bench (and) in the room, those intangibles (and) leadership,” said Cassidy. “First shift of the game, he’s standing up. They scored a goal (2:58 in) and he’s kind of settling the troops down and talking about details of the game: Finishing your routes on the forecheck, reloading all the way to our zone.
“Stuff that coaches preach a lot that goes in one ear and out the other sometimes. When you hear it from one of the leaders of the group, it means so much more.”
It didn’t sound like a certainty that Bergeron would return to the lineup last night. Nor does he sound 100 percent confident the injury, whatever it is, is fully behind him.
“I was feeling good in practice,” Bergeron said. “That was one of the reasons I told them I thought I was ready to go. You don’t know what to expect. You’re trying to hope for the best. I don’t want to say I was surprised (at how well it went), because you want to be at your best every time you step on the ice.”
Will this be an ailment that requires ongoing management?
“That’s the million dollar question, right?” Bergeron said. “Ahhh … I don’t know what to say to that. Yeah, I’m feeling good. But we might manage a little bit for quite awhile. But I’m feeling good. (Last night) was no issue.”
It sure didn’t look like he was having any problems, as he handled the puck smoothly, made good passes and repeatedly won possession battles on the boards.
“I felt good,” he said. “It’s one of those where it’s the first one, and your legs are a little heavy, especially early on. But getting the (four first-period) goals definitely helps get you going after that. I felt better as the game went on.
“It’s really important to go back to what you know best — not to try to force things. Just be in your position — especially when you play with great players, like I do. I try to be in my spot and let the play come to me — especially when it’s been awhile like that.”
The first real look at the Bergeron-Marchand-Anders Bjork went fairly well as Bjork had two goals, Bergeron and Marchand tallied one each, and the trio combined for five assists.
“I thought we established a little chemistry,” said Bergeron with typical understatement. “I thought we were moving our feet very well, and (Bjork) was obviously making plays. He was on the puck, too, and that makes a big difference to turning the puck over and helping and supporting us. He played a great game.”
All three did. And B’s fans should be excited about the prospect of watching this line all season.