Patrice Bergeron Played Through Broken Rib, Torn Cartilage, Separated Shoulder
BOSTON (CBS) -- Though the Bruins lost in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the team displayed a gutsy effort that made the city of Boston proud.
While every player in a Black and Gold jersey was dealing with some sort of pain or injury this late into the postseason, no player personified what it means to be a hockey player more than Patrice Bergeron.
The Bruins' leader left Game 5 with an unknown injury and was taken to a Chicago hospital, and after the series ended, Bergeron revealed what he had been dealing with.
Bergeron said he was playing with a broken rib and torn cartilage. To make matters worse, he sustained a separated shoulder while playing in Game 6.
"It's the Stanley Cup Final, everyone's banged up, everyone wants to help the team and obviously I couldn't do that in Game 5," Bergeron said. "It was mostly because they were worried about my spleen being hurt, so that's why we had to go to the hospital. But everything was fine so it was just the ribs, and the muscles, and the soft tissue."
The 27-year-old center logged 17:45 of ice time in Game 6, registering two hits officially on the score sheet.
Fellow centerman David Krejci spoke glowingly about the Bruins' alternate captain's ability to play through the pain.
"No matter if he plays five or 20 minutes, just to have him on the bench gave us all sorts of energy," Krejci said. "You know, we love each other here. We always want to play for each other, and having him on the ice and on the bench was just great. I was very happy that he was able to play -- it wasn't easy. He is a warrior."
Tyler Seguin also spoke with great respect to Bergeron and his toughness.
"Obviously guys have bumps and bruises, but he's a guy that you obviously say is the heart and soul of our team," Seguin said. "He wears that 'B' with a lot of pride."
