SUNRISE, FLPatrice Bergeron took part in the optional morning skate at BankAtlantic and hes being listed as a game time decision by his coach.
The banged up center full expects to play against the Panthers, however, despite taking a Matti Niskanen slapper off the left knee on Sunday afternoon and a Johnny Boychuk steamed blast off the back of his left leg Tuesday night.
It was one of those things. You cant really control it. I couldnt get out of the way. You hope its not going to hit you, but Johnny has a pretty good shot, said Bergeron, who topped 17 minutes of ice time and won 20-out-of-27 face-offs in the one-sided loss to the Lightning. Im hopeful that it will stay the way it is for the rest of the day. We need to find answers, gain some ground and build up some points. Theres not much time left in the regular season and we need to get on a roll.
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Its pretty much the same thing today. Hoping Ill be in the lineup and I felt okay. Youd like to be 100 percent, but its part of the game and Ill be in there hopefully.
Bergeron took Monday off the ice as a maintenance day to tend to his aches and pains, and is expected to center a reunited line between Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin.
After the offensively combustible line of Seguin, David Krejci and Milan Lucic were on the ice for the first three goals allowed against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period Tuesday night, Claude Julien is looking to reach back to defensive basics by setting No. 37 as the defensive anchor.
Bergeron admitted he was feeling a pretty healthy amount of pain in playing through injury, but he said his willingness to play through discomfort wasnt worth any special acknowledgement at this time of year.
Im not the only one thats got to play through pain. Im no different than anybody else. Its part of the game and it shouldnt be an excuse, said Bergeron. Its just pain tolerance, I guess, and you go from there.
While the Bruins werent going to fully commit to Bergerons place in the lineup given the pain factor in his left leg, the expectation is there that the center will make pregame warm-ups and play in a pivotal game against the Panthers amid a three-game losing streak.