Patrice Bergeron, NHL MVP candidate, is going to miss at least 2 weeks
The Boston Bruins will be without center Patrice Bergeron for the next two weeks as they attempt to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
Another season, another injury for Bruins top center Patrice Bergeron.
Bergeron has been one of the league’s top scorers this season, amassing 27 scores and 27 assists in 55 games.
Unfortunately, Bergeron is also one of the Bruins’ most oft-injured players, and this year is shaping up to be no different.
A shoulder injury in 2006-07. A season-ending head injury in 2007-08. Another concussion in 2008-09. Yet another concussion in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. A punctured lung, separated shoulder and broken rib in 2013. A sports hernia in 2016-17. And, now, a fractured foot.
Just don’t ever say Bergeron doesn’t live up to the standard of toughness in Boston.
Bergeron was seen wearing a walking boot after the Bruins’ loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 24 after he took a puck to the foot in the first period.
Report: Patrice Bergeron leaves in walking boot after loss to Maple Leafs. https://t.co/breYI9HJEC pic.twitter.com/waIec44Rvq
— theScore (@theScore) February 25, 2018
X-rays after the Toronto game were negative, so Bergeron played against the Buffalo Sabres the following day. However, a CT scan on Monday revealed a small fracture:
Bruins issue update on Patrice Bergeron: https://t.co/kHgucA1ptQ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 27, 2018
Bergeron will be evaluated again in two weeks.
In the meantime, the Bruins currently sit at third place in the Atlantic Division and have the Carolina Hurricanes up next on Tuesday night.
Without Bergeron, Riley Nash will most likely slot into the center spot on the top line alongside Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
As for Bergeron’s MVP campaign, two weeks might be just enough time to take him out of the running, which would be a huge disappointment. Bergeron has flourished offensively with Bruce Cassidy at the helm; his 27 goals and 54 points are career highs.
But after already missing five games to injury previously this season, Bergeron will likely fall out of the race for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
That’s okay; he’ll be satisfied with winning the Selke Trophy. Again.
However, even if Bergeron is out of the running for this season’s more offensive-minded awards, that doesn’t mean the Bruins won’t be happy to have their goals leader back as they gear up for the home stretch leading into the postseason.