Bergeron remains ‘gold standard’
Captain continues to chug along
Nick Foligno was holding court in front of his locker after the Bruins’ 6-2 demolition of the New York Islanders on Saturday when one of his favorite subjects — Patrice Bergeron — came up.
At the start of his effusive praise for the captain, the savvy veteran decided to have a little fun.
“Can’t wait to see what next year brings,” said Foligno with a mischievous grin.
Bergeron, of course, is on a one-year, team-friendly contract and, if he’s made his mind up about whether this season is his last or not, he has not made that public.
But if this is the “one last run” players and management spoke about when the season began, Bergeron is making it count. With a 428-5 record, the team is on a historic pace. On Saturday, he scored his 20th goal of the year, making it 10 years straight in which he’s had 20 or more goals. A record sixth Selke Award is not out of the question.
The goal he scored on Saturday was a bit fluky. It took a funky bounce off a stanchion and popped back over the net to him and he bunted it out of mid-air into an empty net. But, in a way, it was vintage Bergeron, a situation in which he seemed to be the only player on he ice who was able to track where the puck was. Considering this is his 19th season of being in the right place at the right time, it’s a good bet that there was more to that goal than luck.
“The gold standard” is how Foligno referred to his game.
“He’s the model of consistency in this league,” said Foligno. “The way he gets it done on both sides of the puck, gets it done offensively, gets it done even more defensively. He’s a guy that I’ve admired a long time. All of us do. He plays the game the right way. That’s one of the best compliments you can get as a player. That’s a pretty goal he scored to get his 20th. That’s a sick goal. But it’s no surprise. He just does things the right way. He’s a guy that cares a lot about his craft, too, and there’s a reason he’s scored so many goals over so many years. I don’t think he’s slowing down any time soon.”
It was a play that didn’t show up on the scoresheet that got the ball rolling, and one that helps to define him as much as the goal he scored. It happened on the B’s first power play that resulted in Jake DeBrusk’s goal. A loose puck went to the left boards and it appeared that Kyle Palmieri had a good chance to clear. But Bergeron simply lifted Palmieri’s stick while the
Islander veteran could only kick at the puck. It went to David Pastrnak, who made a terrific backhand pass to Brad Marchand who in turn relayed it to DeBrusk for the pretty five-hole tuck.
“Everyone doesn’t realize how much he keeps plays alive,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “If he’s not where he is, that puck’s cleared.”
Despite the clear sailing that a 42-8-5 record suggests, it hasn’t been what you’d call the easiest season for the 37-year-old Bergeron. In Thursday in Nashville, he snapped a six-game scoreless streak with a goal and an assist. He’s also had some off nights in the faceoff circle lately. But he looked like his old self against the Preds, deftly executing a give-and-go with running mate Marchand before sniping a shot past Juuse Saros.
Both he and Marchand looked further energized on Saturday with the return of DeBrusk to their line.
“He looked awesome, especially after missing 17 games,” said Bergeron. “It’s not easy to come back after missing a long time. Kudos to him. He did the job on the ice and off the ice to make sure he was ready and he looked ready to go. I thought his legs were there. Obviously, getting that goal early I’m sure is helpful to get himself back. Yeah, it was nice to have him on our side.”
And as for his own milestone?
“It’s nice,” said Bergeron, with a bit of a “meh” shrug. “I’m glad it went in, but that being said, you move on to the next one. I’m playing with some great players and obviously it’s been a special year in a lot of ways. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.” …
Loose pucks
For the second time in a row on Monday, the B’s will be getting an opponent on the second half of a backto-back as the Ottawa Senators were playing the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. And against the out-of-the-playoffs Senators, the B’s need all the help they can get. The Sens are the only team that owns two wins over the B’s.
On Sunday, the Sens moved Tyler Motte back to the Rangers for Julien Gauthier and a conditional seventh-round pick. Meanwhile, the B’s continue to be linked to Columbus defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who has been held out of the Blue Jackets lineup for trade-related reasons. …
Pastrnak goes into Monday’s game in second place behind Connor McDavid in goals with 39 but he’s got just one in his last six games, the big overtime winner in Dallas that was scored at 4-on-4.