NEW YORK — If you went through the gamut of injuries that Patrice Bergeron has sustained over the course of his 18-year career, it’d likely paint the picture of a car crash — rather than an extended tenure in a pro sports league.
A broken nose (on multiple occasions), concussions, cracked ribs, broken foot, collapsed lung … the list goes on and on.
And yet, for as startling as Bergeron’s entire medical log is, the more surprising takeaway is the amount of damage that the veteran pivot has endured — and actually played through without taking himself out of a game.
As such, when Bergeron went down the tunnel and didn’t return during a game against the Penguins on Feb. 8, the Bruins were right to be worried about their captain.
Considering Bergeron’s history with concussions, the optics of his fall and slamming the back of his head into the TD Garden boards added to their level of concern.
Sidney Crosby sends Patrice Bergeron down the tunnel: pic.twitter.com/nvdD5adqut
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) February 9, 2022
But for the first time in what seems like a long time, good fortune might have finally fallen Boston’s way.
Speaking on Wednesday following the Bruins’ scheduled practice at New York’s Chelsea Pier, Bergeron confirmed that he did not suffer a concussion on the aforementioned fall — with the B’s franchise pivot expected back in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Islanders.
“When I hit my head on the boards there, I got tangled up with (Sidney Crosby) — I just got some laceration on the back of my head and just needed some time to get some stitches and it was swollen,” Bergeron said. “So I just needed some time to get back.”
Bergeron might have missed three games due to the cut, but the 36-year-old forward noted that it was more precautionary than anything related to pain or another setback.
"I thought I was fine until I saw the cut and all that. ... No, I felt good. It's just, obviously, you want to take the time. I think it's one of those things where you hit your head, you always ask yourself many questions. I've been through it before and everything felt fine. So it was more a matter of taking the time with the cut. I think also the team as well, the trainers and whatnot, wanted to make sure everything was back to normal before I was heading back on the ice in games.”
Of course, things could have been much worse for Bergeron, especially if the fall led to yet another brain injury for an athlete who has already suffered plenty in his extended career. For Bergeron, who has already noted plenty of times this season that he plans to take a step back and evaluate his future before determining his plans for next season, any head injury does open the door for additional concern.
"Of course you think about that. … But I mean, it's always something that you want to make sure as an athlete, you want to do the right thing on the ice and play as hard as you can, but also you think about your future as well and want to be smart that way,” Bergeron said. “So that's why I think we took the extra time to make sure it was really feeling great and back on on the ice."
Still, in the short-term, Bergeron is ready to get back on the ice Thursday, with the future Hall of Famer set to center a top line with a pair of high-octane wingers in Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak to his left and right, respectively.
Bergeron might be at his best when Brad Marchand is situated to his left, but opposing teams will still have their hands full against a Hall-Bergeron-Pastrnak trio, which has outshot foes, 45-23, in their 62:51 of 5v5 ice time this season.
“Obviously, Pasta and Taylor both have great speed on the wings. I think it's one of those things where you try to send them and create something out of nothing many times. They like to have the puck as well. They like to have the puck on their stick. So for me, I think it's more trying to get open, trying to generate chances for them to get it. And whether it's on the forecheck, turning the puck over and getting it back, but also being good on the cycling game. And finding ways for them to have that puck.”
Patrice Bergeron leads the post-practice stretch. pic.twitter.com/ZpPOcrBgpk
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 16, 2022
Marchand set to state his case to NHL
Mr. Marchand goes to New York?
He may not be eligible to return to game action until Feb. 24 against the Kraken, but Brad Marchand has tagged along with Boston during this current NYC road trip. Not only to keep the rust off, but also to make an appearance at the NHL league offices in Manhattan on Wednesday.
Marchand is set to present his appeal case to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, with the B’s top left wing looking to cut down on the current six-game suspension that he was slapped with last week for striking Pens netminder Tristan Jarry.
While Marchand was cognizant of his extended rap sheet and its role in his steep punishment, he argued during his last media availability that such an infraction didn’t cause any harm to Jarry and shouldn’t have warranted such an extended stint on the shelf.
Marchand’s teammate and longtime friend in Bergeron agreed with such sentiment.
"To me, it's one of those where I think Marshy understands that he might have gone too far, a little bit," Bergeron said. "And it wasn't — I guess the heat of the moment got the best of him. That being said, I don't think it deserves a six-game suspension. There's also I think, even on the other side, I don't think they thought that it deserved a six-game suspension. ... I understand that he's got a history.
“I understand all that. And maybe he does deserve a — it is a suspendable play because of that. But that being said, I don't think it is a six-game suspension. That'll be my argument — is you look around the league and I don't think the same type of plays have had shat stiff of a punishment.”
Bergeron reflects on Rask’s legacy
A lot has changed since the last time Bergeron took to the ice in a game setting. The NHL had not thrown the book at Marchand, the Bruins were rolling out their healthiest lineup in weeks and Tuukka Rask was still on the roster.
In the wake of Rask’s retirement, Bergeron reflected on the B’s franchise netminder’s comeback attempt and his impact in Boston’s net for over a decade.
“It was hard. It was hard to see him go through all of it and battling his way back and working extremely hard to feel good enough to be back on the ice and practicing and playing with us," Bergeron said of Rask. "And for him to realize that — not the actual injury, but like, lingering stuff was coming back and him not able to play to where I think his standards were and where he's been his whole career is tough as a friend.
“It's tough to see, But that being said, I think we should really feel so fortunate for what he's done for the organization. For me, I know to have a friend like him, grateful and thankful for all the time that we spent together and wish him all the best looking forward. I know we'll be friends — he was over the house not too long ago, and we had some great discussions. I know the friendship is gonna carry on, for sure.”