BOSTON — For the first time in a while, the Boston Bruins are scheduled to have three key cogs back in their line-up tonight against Washington at TD Banknorth  Garden.

Most notably, center Patrice Bergeron is ready to rejoin the team tonight for the first time since he suffered a concussion Dec. 20 against Carolina. Defenseman Andrew Ference (out since Nov. 13 with a broken foot) and winger Milan Lucic (out since Jan. 6 with an upper-body injury) are also slated to face off with the Caps in the battle between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

Bergeron found out during a meeting with the doctors after yesterday’s practice that he’d been cleared to make a full return. Then he just had to coax his coach to let go of the leash.

“Well, that I was feeling good and I’ve practicing for a while and I don’t think I’ll get anymore contact in practice,” said Bergeron today about his argument to head coach Claude Julien.

Bergeron’s return comes at a perfect time because there’s a strong chance Michael Ryder won’t be available because of flu-like symptoms. Ryder didn’t practice yesterday or skate this morning.

“We’re actually looking forward to having him back in the line-up. He’s feeling good and we’re glad to have him back,” said Julien about Bergeron after calling Ryder “unlikely” to play against Washington.  “And I think, under the circumstances, this is real great and positive news for our hockey club.” (more…)

Bergeron

Some time in the next couple of weeks, we could see the return of Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, who is recovering from his second concussion in 14 months.

But Bergeron might be a little different when he returns to the line-up. There’s a chance Bergeron, who’s played center exclusively since the lockout, could move out to the wing for the first time since his rookie year of 2003-04.

“I think it will all depend on our roster at the time,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said today after practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington. “I’m going to try fit him in the best place possible. But the thing with Bergy is, he can play both positions. He’s a good centerman, great on draws, very reliable in our own end. But he’s also a guy that can play the wing and give us some help in that area as well.”

Bergeron, understandably, just wants to get back to playing no matter where the coach puts him. And the Bruins alternate captain is open to the position shift if it’s necessary.

“I’m used to playing the middle. Wing’s been four years now, so it is an adjustment. At the same time, I felt good in both positions. So we’ll see,” he said.

Bergeron

BOSTON — Today was Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron’s third day back on the ice for a light skate, as he attempts to return to action from his second concussion in 14 months.

Bergeron was joined on the TD Banknorth Garden ice by Milan Lucic, Andrew Ference and Manny Fernandez. Bergeron said that while he hasn’t been straining himself, there has been a slight increase in his heart rate (from 145-150 beats per minute to 155-160). But mostly he’s on the ice just to get out of the workout room.

“(The skating is) just to have a chance for me to put the skates back on and get a feel for the ice again and have fun with it also,” he said after his teammates went through their morning skate in preparation for their game with the Montreal Canadiens. “So it’s not like a drastic change or a big increase of the workouts, but it’s more of just go on the ice and have fun and do kind of the same workout as I could do on the bike.” (more…)

Savard

The Boston Bruins’ forward corps possesses plenty of star power. Center Marc Savard will head to his second career NHL All-Star Game later this month and he currently sits fourth in the NHL with 52 points (14 goals). His right winger Phil Kessel sits fourth in goals with 24. And Savard, Blake Wheeler and David Krejci are all in the top five in the league in plus/minus.

But the Bruins didn’t build their 30-7-4 record by relying on just one line or a quintet of forwards. Their offense is third at 3.58 goals per game and their power play is third at 23.9 percent.

All four lines have contributed at one point or another during the season’s first half, and each group has held its own in the defensive end, despite injuries to some key players.

So here it is, my midseason player-by-player grades for the Bruins’ forwards: (more…)

BOSTON — Despite suffering a second concussion in a 14-month period Dec. 20 against Carolina,  Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is confident he’ll be back in the line-up this season.

“I’m very confident I will play this year. It’s a matter of when. That’s why I don’t want to put a date on it and get disappointed like I was last year during the playoffs,” Bergeron insisted during a brief meeting with the media inside the Bruins’ locker room at TD Banknorth Garden.

Bergeron, who suffered a Grade 3 concussion after a hit from behind in Oct. 2007, has been sidelined since hitting his jaw into Hurricanes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg’s shoulder at full speed at center ice. Bergeron recalled today that he was trying to “force the red line” and make Seidenberg give up the puck.

“It’s a play I’m going to do 20 times and he’s not going to hit me in the jaw like that,” said Bergeron, who in 31 games this season compiled 4-14-18 totals. (more…)

Bergeron

BOSTON — Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was available for comment today at TD Banknorth Garden for the first time since he suffered his second concussion in 14 months Dec. 20.

Bergeron looked fit and able as he spoke.

The key answer he gave for all the Black and Gold backers out there was this one: “I’m very confident I  will play this year. It’s a matter of when. That’s why I don’t want to put a date on it and get disappointed like I was last year during the playoffs.”

Bergeron continues to work out casually and he says he hasn’t had any setbacks.

I’ll have expanded coverage of Bergeron’s comments within the next hour or so.

Axelsson

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins went through their first morning skate of  2009 at TD Banknorth Garden just a couple hours ago. And the lines they skated were the same as the ones that beat tonight’s opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins, on the road Tuesday night.

The alignment included the swap of left wings head coach Claude Julien made with P.J. Axelsson joining center Marc Savard and right winger Phil Kessel, and Milan Lucic hopping on the line with Stephane Yelle and Chuck Kobasew.

Savard responded with a three-point night and Axelsson notched a couple assists. (more…)

St. Pierre

What do you get as a reward when you score your first goal of the NHL season and help your team take down the defending conference champion? A trip to the minors.

The Boston Bruins this morning announced that center Martin St. Pierre, who chipped in with a shorthanded goal last night in the 5-2 win at Pittsburgh, has been assigned to Providence (AHL). In five games with the Bruins, St. Pierre also registered one assist.

Also, the Bruins placed center Patrice Bergeron (concussion) on the injured reserve list.

Bergeron

No. 3: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones’ hit from behind on Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was probably the lowest point of the Black and Gold’s calendar year of ’07.

Looking to bounce back after a dismal 2006-07 season, the last thing the Bruins needed was to lose their best two-way player for an extended time. After the hit, it was learned that Bergeron suffered a Grade 3 concussion — the most severe type, and one that would keep him out of game action for the remainder of the regular season.

The year 2008 got better for Bergeron as it moved on — starting with his return to the ice for a light skate in late February, through his workouts that had him ready to play (with doctor’s clearance) had the Bruins moved to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and then his return to game action in the regular season when the Bruins opened their current season in Colorado Oct. 9.

Little did he know that this year would close much the way the previous one did, and Bergeron’s trials and tribulations dealing with concussion problems is an obvious pick for the Top 10 Bruins Stories of ’08. (more…)

Bergeron

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien confirmed today after practice at Ristuccia Arena that center Patrice Bergeron is still at home following the concussion he suffered Dec. 20 vs. Carolina.

“I know for a fact today was better than yesterday,” Julien said about Bergeron, who has been out of the line-up since his collision with Hurricanes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg.

Julien said that there’s still no timetable for a Bergeron return. (more…)

Bergeron

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli released the following statement at 3 p.m. today about the status of center Patrice Bergeron, who left Saturday’s game after a collision with Carolina’s Dennis Seidenberg.

“After first being treated at the TD Banknorth Garden yesterday, Patrice was diagnosed as having sustained a concussion, and was admitted to Mass General Hospital under the care of Dr. Peter Asnis.

Since being admitted to MGH Patrice has undergone extensive testing, and all of the results have come back normal. When examined this morning, his condition had improved greatly over last night, and he was released from the hospital. There is no timetable for his return to the ice.”

Bergeron

BOSTON — After his team’s 4-2 win over Carolina at the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston  Bruins head coach Claude Julien did not have a definitive update on the status of Bruins center Patrice Bergeron.

The veteran forward left the ice under his own power along with trainer Don Del Negro after a second-period collision with Carolina defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. Bergeron was attempting to forecheck as the blueliner crossed the red  line and Bergeron’s head hit Seidenberg’s shoulder at full speed. Bergeron was facedown and motionless on the ice for a brief time.

“I don’t know. The doctors have been looking at it,” Julien said. “They haven’t given us any indication as far as the severity of it. I think everybody saw it was that collision at center ice and obviously he went down a little dazed. Right now, I even talked to the doctors after the period, they were looking at him, still right now we’re not able to give you a verdict.”

Julien said that after the second period he spoke with Bergeron, who seemed alert and aware.

The time Bergeron was down was obviously more worrisome because of his history. He missed almost all of last season after suffering a Grade 3 concussion as a result of a hit from behind by Philadelphia’s Randy Jones.

It was a credit to the Bruins that they were able to refocus after the injury and rally for the victory.

“You think about him and you hope everything goes OK,” center Marc Savard said. “He’s a big part of this hockey club and hopefully we get him back sooner than later this time.”

This week, Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien alluded to the fact that Patrice Bergeron might be a little worn down because the star center has been working hard ever since last

April, when he first started to rehab from his serious concussion and his post-concussion syndrome. The coach pointed to Bergeron’s potential weariness as the source of his slight scoring skid, which reached seven goal-less games after the win over Buffalo Wednesday (although Bergeron did record two assists in the victory).

Today after the club’s practice in Wilmington, I asked Bergeron if the fact that he’s been working out for eight straight months, while his teammates and most of his opponents took at least some time off during the summer, is catching up to him. (more…)