Bruins' Bergeron remains questionable for weekend return

PHOENIX – The Bruins were hoping Patrice Bergeron would be able to return to the lineup at some point this weekend, but it doesn’t appear that will happen tonight against the Coyotes.

The alternate captain has been sidelined with a lower-body injury. He hasn’t practiced with the team, but has been skating on his own during the team’s first road trip of the season. The Bruins will not have a morning skate on Saturday, but Bergeron is expected to skate.

“He’s out there skating, so that’s a good sign,” said Bruce Cassidy. “Obviously, without being able to participate in practice you’re always concerned that you need one of those good practices before you play. He’ll be updated again (Saturday) but it doesn’t look like he’ll be in. Again, I don’t want to get ahead of myself.



The Bruins play back-to-back games and will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. No doubt the 1-2-0 Bruins need Bergeron’s leadership on and off the ice.

“It hurts (not having him in the lineup),” Cassidy said. “He’s arguably our best player night in, night out. He makes people around him better. We use him in all situations, but we need someone else to step up – it’s that simple."

With the next-man-up mentality, Cassidy tried Ryan Spooner in Bergeron’s center position, but it didn’t work, so that’s why Riley Nash has been between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

“We tried (Spooner) up there but I don’t know if he’s the best fit with Marchy and Pasta,” Cassidy said. “Over time it may sort itself out and we didn’t hang with it long. One of the things Bergy does is play in straight lines and goes to the net. He’s a centerman that doesn’t necessarily want the puck all the time through the neutral zone.

“Spoons is a different player, he likes to hang onto it and then dish. We put Nash up there because we thought he would be a little more straight line.”

Cassidy put Spooner back in the bottom six and wants him to attack more and take charge of his line, along with Matt Beleskey and Frank Vatrano.

“He’s been in the league awhile now and we’re asking him to (take charge). We’ll see if it plays out (Saturday) but that whole line, we need some more production from them going forward and they’re aware of that, so hopefully they’ll give it to us (Saturday),” Cassidy said.

Here are some other notes:

David Backes is sidelined with diverticulitis and remains in Boston while the team is on the road. Cassidy said the veteran forward has been skating on his own but there’s no timetable for a possible return. The coach said the veteran forward is progressing with his fitness, but there’s a chance he could need surgery down the road. Also, Noel Acciari (broken index finger) has not been on the ice but he should be able to start skating on his own soon in order to keep his conditioning level up, according to Cassidy.

Forward Ryan White, who signed a professional tryout, remains with the team and has been practicing. The Bruins are still vetting the veteran forward and a decision to either sign or release him should come early next week, according to Cassidy.

Cassidy announced that Tuukka Rask will start on Sunday against the Golden Knights in Vegas.