Haggerty: Bergeron's play All-Star worthy regardless

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SUNRISE, FL.If hes trying to make a point with his sterling play, the NHL would do well to listen up.

With the league still mulling over a couple of worthy replacements for injured All-Star players Mikko Koivu and Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron once again supplied a game-long reminder why hes one of the best players that the NHL has to offer.

On a night when many of his teammates looked like their skating boots had been filled with cement mix prior to puck drop, Bergeron scored both of Bostons regulation goals, led the team with six shots and scored in the shootout to keep the Bs alive until David Krejci could win it in the 3-2 extra sessions win over the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.

It seemed as if No. 37 basically willed the rest of the Bruins to victory in another contest that showed exactly why hes the assistant captain and an irreplaceable part of the leadership group. After the game, his appreciative coach only wished there were more like him on a night when the teams execution was far from mistake-free and effort was erratic up and down the lineup.

He was by far our best player. Theres no doubt about it. The stats will certainly solidify that, said Claude Julien. Just the way he competed . . . even some back checks. The guy is so great fore-checking and hes always the first one back. He works so hard and you understand why at the end of the game hes so exhausted.

He leaves it all out on the ice. Right now we need more of that out on the ice. We dont have enough guys playing that way. Hopefully if they follow his example well be that much better.

Bergeron has already stated hed be willing to play in the All-Star game if asked to participate as an injury substitute, but that clearly wasnt the driving force behind this nights efforts. An NHL exhibition two weeks from now in Ottawa was a distant thought on this night with a handful of regular season games awaiting before the All-Star break arrives. With the team struggling to find their bearings amid a series of half-hearted performances over the last two weeks, Bergeron set the ultimate example for his teammates to follow.

Thats a big game player right there. When we need something hes definitely the first guy to do something for the team and for the boys, said Seguin. Thats why its always a plus playing on his line because hes always team-first. When we need a big goal or a big game out of him -- like tonight -- hes definitely a big player.

The center didnt waste any time breathing some life into the Bs attack by opening the scoring just 90 seconds into the game. Benoit Pouliot attacked the Panthers with fore-checking force to keep possession in the offensive zone, and ultimately forced the scoring turnover near the blue line.

Once the puck was coughed up by the Panthers it made its way to Tyler Seguin, who found Bergeron waiting to fire away from the high slot. The goal-scoring skill in Bergerons game came to the forefront and he sizzled a wrist shot high to the blocker side. The first score was Bergerons 12th goal of the season, and it was followed by a power play strike in the second period during a 5-on-3 advantage for the Bruins.

This time it was Seguin that won the puck battle in the offensive zone, wheeled through the high slot area while drawing the attention of the Florida penalty kill unit and then feeding to Bergeron in the low slot. Scott Clemmensen had no chance to stop the shot, and that handed No. 37 his seventh goal in the last seven games.

He now has more points than Scott Hartnellanother popular choice as a potential All-Star replacementand is rocking a plus-28 on the season. His 39 points rank second on the team behind only Seguin, and Bergerons 25 assists lead the Black and Gold this year.

The two goals showed Bergerons varying strengths in different areas of the attack zone, and it also displayed just how blessed he is with complementary linemates that have helped him vastly improve his offensive game this year.

The first goal was a great play by Benny turning the puck over and Seguin being strong on the puck. I was just lucky enough on that shot, said Bergeron. The second one was a play where I knew Seguin saw me and it was just a matter of him waiting for that lane to develop so he could get the puck to me.

Whether purposefully or purely accidental, Bergeron is putting on the kind of All-Star push that should make the decision-makers stand up and take notice. Hes racked up 11 points and a plus-8 during seven games in the month of January, and he simply keeps pushing that Bergeron-ian pace while others around him are slowing down due to fatigue, injuries or just plain laziness.

True All-Star players rise to the occasion when their team needs them most, and are often the difference between winning and losing hockey games. Bergeron was all of that and then some against Florida whether or not theres an NHL All-Star invitation waiting in his inbox over these next few weeks.

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