No Bergeron Decision Until Pre-Game Skate
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Bruins fans, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, will have to wait for the pre-game skate to find out if Patrice Bergeron will suit up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bergeron was present for the team's morning skate in Tampa, but no decision has been made if he will play or not. Bruins coach Claude Julien said if Bergeron is on the ice for the pre-game skate, the center will play.
"There's going to probably be a decision made either today if not tomorrow," Julien said Thursday. "He is closer. He's feeling pretty good. Again, not totally up to the coach to make the final decision. A lot of other things have to happen."
"And, again, I can only give you the same answer I gave you the other day," the coach continued. "He's going to warm up because he's ready to go and we'll - I'm sure there's going to be some discussions on how we move forward today, and it just goes to show you that he's getting real closer."
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"He's still day to day," said Julien. "Until I'm told that he's clear and - obviously he had the skate this morning to see what was going on. You know, all this protocol stuff and everything that goes on, so that's all I can tell you right now. I don't want to elaborate more because we're just going in circles here."
"As I said, the best thing to do is if you see him up there in the warm-up tonight. I'm not just sending him out there to have a skate; he'll be playing."
Bergeron missed the first two games of the series after suffering a mild concussion in Game 4 of the Bruins sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers. He resumed practice this week, which included contact drills on Tuesday.
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Waiting to make a decision could be to throw off the Lightning, who prepared for Bergeron in both Games 1 and 2. The Bruins will have to make an additional move when Bergeron is activated, as it has already been determined that rookie Tyler Seguin will not be the one to sit.
In 11 playoff games this season, Bergeron has two goals, 10 assists and is plus-7 in just over 19-minutes per game.
Every game of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Bruins and Lightning can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub with pregame coverage beginning 60 minutes before each game with the Dunkin Donuts Bruins Pregame show.
