Bergeron’s return propels Bruins
BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron explained to his teammates they should be thankful anytime they’re able to play.
And they should be even more grateful he’s back with them.
Bergeron scored two goals to reach 300 for his career, returning to the lineup Saturday after missing 16 games and leading the Boston Bruins past the Nashville Predators 5-2.
“When you’re in it for a while, it’s game whatever,” he said. “You don’t appreciate it as much. I told them to be thankful because I’ve been missing it for so long.”
He also set up Brad Marchand’s tie-breaking score and finished with two assists to help send Boston to its sixth win in eight games.
“This shows why,” said Marchand, who called Bergeron one of the game’s best players. “It’s tough to jump in after five weeks and feel good. He’s an incredible leader and player and showed that again.”
David Pastrnak had his team-leading 23rd goal and added two assists. Marchand had two assists and defenseman Charlie McAvoy set up Bergeron’s first goal
Making his third straight start for the Bruins, Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots and assisted on Sean Kuraly’s empty-netter.
Ryan Johansen and Kyle Turris scored for Nashville, which lost its fourth straight (0-3-1) for the first time this season. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves.
“We came in to get a win and go into the break on a good note, and obviously that didn’t happen.” Johansen said. “We’ll take this break for some much-needed rest and get back to what makes us successful.”
The Predators completed a winless four-game road trip.
“I think right now, where we’re at, especially on the road, it’s about those one or two or three extra things in the course of a game that we could clean up,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said.
MAPLE LEAFS 5, RANGERS 3: Mitch Marner scored twice during a wild third period for Toronto.
The teams combined for six goals in the final period, including Marner’s emptynet goal with 20 seconds left after Chris Kreider cut the margin to 4-3.
Morgan Rielly had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Marleau and Andreas Johnsson also scored for Toronto. Frederik Andersen made 25 saves, and John Tavares and Johnsson each had two assists as the Leafs won their third straight game.
Neal Pionk and Kevin Hayes had a goal and an assist each for New York. Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves.
Johnsson snapped a 1-1 tie at 1:37 of the third on a goal originally credited to Marner. After Toronto won an offensive zone faceoff to the left of Georgiev, the Rangers backup goalie stopped an initial tip by Tavares off Jake Gardiner’s point shot, but the rebound squirted out to Marner. His shot deflected in off Johnsson standing at the top of the crease.
Rielly leads all NHL defenseman with 42 points and made it 3-1 at 5:26 when he took a pass in the slot from Johnsson and fired his 12th. Johnsson was promoted to Toronto’s top line alongside Marner and Tavares in Thursday’s 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers with Zach Hyman out a minimum of three weeks with an ankle injury.
Hayes and Marner exchanged goals before Kreider slimmed the margin to one, but Marner’s second goal iced it.