Bruins' Patrice Bergeron has mastered the stick check

TORONTO – Patrice Bergeron is still bothered by a hooking penalty he was called for in a game against the New Jersey Devils two weeks ago. The Devils’ Travis Zajac was in on a partial breakaway when Bergeron, in an all-out backcheck, caught up to his opponent and broke up the play with a perfect stick check.

The referee saw it differently a called a penalty and awarded Zajac a penalty shot. Fortunately for the Bruins, goalie Anton Khudobin made the save.

“That was textbook,” Bergeron said of his play after the team’s practice on Friday at Richoh Coliseum as it prepares to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Saturday.



Bergeron has made similar countless textbook plays all season. In fact, he’s made it a point to use the stick check more than a body check because the rate increases to regain puck possession. He positions his body perfectly and the play normally results in his favor.

“It’s something I’ve realized that’s been pretty efficient,” Bergeron told BostonSportsJournal.com. “You get the puck back more often than not. If you put your stick in the air and go hit someone, it’s a good chance they’ll still going to have that puck. If you go stick-on-stick or stick-on-puck, usually something’s going to happen. If you don’t get it back, your teammate’s going to get it back, or there’s going to be a turnover.”

Because he’s considered one of the best two-way players in the game, opponents know Bergeron’s defensive tactics and it’s tough to avoid because he’s so good at it. His timing is off the charts and he usually wins the puck back by poke checking it into open space and retrieving it. To watch him close on a player and successfully accomplish his goal is impressive.

“I’m trying to read the play and which direction he’s going and where his teammates are,” explained Bergeron. “I’m trying as fast as I can to get my stick out closer to his stick as possible. I approach him with my stick as close to him as possible and take that space away.”

Bergeron admits that his number of body checks is down than previous seasons.

“Yeah, my first few years I was taking the body a lot and that was part of my game, but I’m not shying away from any physical play at all. It’s different. I’m trying to be smart with it and my main goal is to get the puck back, so it’s been more efficient for me.”

More often than not, it’s linemate Brad Marchand who recovers the puck, which is a good player to have the puck on his stick. When that occurs, Bergeron then puts himself in a position to receive a pass back from Marchand, especially in the offensive zone and time and again it has led to a goal, which is another reason why Bergeron has 27 goals this season.

“It’s very impressive,” Marchand said. “That’s a skill that very few guys have. Just the way that he reads plays and positions that he puts sticks in to create turnovers and kills plays is impressive. It’s a skill. It’s a natural instinct, so it’s hard to do it the way he does it. If it were easy then everybody would be able to do it. He has a gift and that’s why he’s a four-time Selke winner. You can try to do what he does, but it’s hard to duplicate just the way he reads and reacts to plays.”

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy believes Bergeron’s stick-checking ability has become contagious throughout the team. That was evident during the team’s 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Bruins had good sticks the entire game and weren’t allowing the Oilers to get inside and that’s why their shot total was low. It all starts with Bergeron.

“What is it about Bergy? He’s just smart and he’s got that ability to get in the right spot and anticipate,” Cassidy said. “He’s always one step ahead reading the play. He’s in the right spot all the time. He can see the chain reaction of events. He’s a lot stronger on his stick than most people probably give him credit for and once he’s in on a battle rarely does he lose. He gets his body on people, but it’s more positionally than impactfully because he’s in the right spots ahead of people.”

It’s also a skill that could be a difference-maker during the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s one reason how Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has helped Pittsburgh win back-to-back championships, but he’s not in the same class as Bergeron in this category.