Patrice Bergeron a game-time decision for Bruins in Game 1 vs. Panthers
BOSTON -- The Bruins are set to play their first game of the playoffs on Monday night. Unfortunately for head coach Jim Montgomery, he's not quite sure how his lines will shake out for Game 1 against the Florida Panthers.
There is currently an illness making its way through the Boston dressing room, which could leave the Bruins without some key players when the puck drops at TD Garden on Monday night. The status of captain Patrice Bergeron remains "TBD" as of Monday morning, with Bergeron one of the members of the team feeling under the weather.
Goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman are also dealing with the bug, leaving their status up in the air for Monday night. Boston recalled goaltender Brandon Bussi from Providence for purposes of emergency, with Bussi set to serve as the team's third goalie for tonight's game.
Montgomery said that the bug has been going around the team for the last 10-14 days. It didn't leave him many options for Monday's optional morning skate.
"I don't have a definitive lineup right now," Montgomery told reporters.
So no lineup or no starting goalie for Game 1 at this moment, as Bergeron, Ullmark, and Swayman are all game-time decisions for Boston. Ullmark and Swayman did at least take part in Monday's optional skate.
If you want some good news on the lineup, Montgomery did say that David Krejci will return on Monday after the veteran forward missed the final six games of the regular season with a lower body injury. Veteran defenseman Derek Forbort is definitively in against the Panthers, and winger Nick Folingno will likely play in Monday night's playoff game.
