David Krejci a late scratch for Game 3, will be game-time decision for Game 4 with upper-body injury

BOSTON -- The Bruins are really hurting to start the postseason, especially up the middle. David Krejci was a late scratch for Friday night's Game 3 against the Panthers in Florida with an upper-body injury.

The last thing Bruins fans want to hear about is another centerman dealing with an upper-body injury. The Bruins were already playing without Patrice Bergeron, who has missed all three games against Florida with an upper-body injury.

Now they may not have Krejci for Game 4, either. After Boston's 4-2 win on Friday night, B's head coach Jim Montgomery said that Krejci was "50-50" to play on Sunday afternoon.

Krejci was on the ice for warmups on Friday, but was scratched just before the puck dropped in Sunrise, Florida. It left Boston without the team's top two centers for Game 3, though it worked out, as Krejci's replacement, Nick Foligno, scored the team's fourth goal on Friday.    

Krejci missed the final six games of Boston's regular season with an injury, but it's unclear if his absence on Friday is connected. At least it doesn't sound like something that should keep him out of the postseason lineup for too long.

As for Bergeron, Montgomery said Friday morning that the team hopes to have its captain back for next Wednesday's Game 5 in Boston.