Analysis: How will the Bruins handle life without Patrice Bergeron (broken foot)?

The Boston Bruins will be without Hart Trophy candidate Patrice Bergeron for at least two weeks with a fractured right foot, the team announced Tuesday morning as it prepares to host the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. at TD Garden.

Bergeron will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

"It's very disappointing," he said. "It was tough news to hear (Monday) night."

The injury occurred in the first period of Saturday's game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Bergeron was defending the neutral zone in front of the opposition's bench when the Maple Leafs made a clearing attempt. The puck struck Bergeron in the right ankle and it was evident he was in pain. He went to the bench but never missed a shift.

X-rays taken in Toronto were negative, so he was back in the lineup on Sunday against the Sabres in Buffalo. He thought maybe it was only a bad bruise, but the pain never subsided during the game, so he received a CT scan when the team returned to Boston.

"When you miss a guy like that, you can't replace him," said Bergeron's linemate and longtime teammate Brad Marchand. "He does so much for our team and he's having another phenomenal year, so it's going to be tough to miss him for a bit. We still have a great team. We've rallied all year and that's what we have to do. We're in crunch time now and we have to win regardless. Everyone has to step up and do a little more and hopefully try to fill that void a little bit."

Bergeron has 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 55 games this season. He's also a plus-26.

BSJ analysis

That gasp you heard throughout New England was every Bruins fan when they heard the news about Bergeron. The Bruins have become a Stanley Cup contender and Bergeron is having an MVP season.

This injury is a good example of why general manager Don Sweeney added depth to the organization prior to Monday's NHL trade deadline. Inside the room, the players understand it will be a challenge without Bergeron in the lineup.

"Discussions he was up for the Hart as MVP of the league, so obviously it's going to hurt," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy.

Not only will the Bruins lose his production at both ends of the ice, his ability to win faceoffs, which allows first-puck possession, will be missed. Bergeron is a four-time Selke Trophy winner and is considered the best two-way player of his generation. Defensively the Bruins will need to tighten their game in his absence.

"We don't expect one person to replace Bergy, it'll be done by committee," Cassidy said.

Riley Nash will center Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. As a result of Riley Nash moving up, newcomer Tommy Wingels will be inserted into the lineup as the third-line center with David Backes on the right and Danton Heinen on the left.

Pastrnak's two-way game has improved, but he's been inconsistent this season. He'll have to take on more defensive responsibility and try to keep his game simple and not get cute with Bergeron out.

It also has a huge impact on special teams since Bergeron is a mainstay on both the power play and penalty kills. He's become dangerous on the PP from the bumper position in the slot, where many of his goals have been scored from this season.

Without Bergeron on the first power-play unit, Backes will play that bumper position, joining Marchand, Pastrnak, Rick Nash and Torey Krug on the man-advantage. The second unit will consist of Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy, Heinen, David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.

On the penalty kill, Wingels has the ability to work on that unit, so it'll be good to have him in the mix. Rick Nash will kill penalties too. Those two players will cover Bergeron's minutes on the PK, while the other five -- Noel Acciari, Tim Schaller, Sean Kuraly, Riley Nash and Marchand -- remain intact.

Since Riley Nash's minutes will drastically increase, Cassidy has options if it doesn't work. The coach could always move Backes back to center if needed. However, Marchand isn't concerned with Riley Nash working with the top line.

"He's like a mini Bergy," Marchand said. "He plays a very similar game. He's very talented and a very good two-way player. It'll be fun to play with Nasher and he's been very hot lately too, so hopefully, it'll go good."

Bergeron missed the first five games of this season with a lower-body injury and Riley Nash played on that line to start.

Here are the Bruins' projected line combinations and defensive pairings vs. the Hurricanes. 

Forwards

Marchand-Riley Nash-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Rick Nash
Heinen-Wingels-Backes
Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari

Defense

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Miller

Goalies

Rask