The long-awaited return of Boston Bruins Captain from the IR will have to be put on hold as the Bruins just announced that Patrice Bergeron was not cleared by doctors and will not be suiting up for tonight’s home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bergeron has been recovering from elbow surgery due to an infection in his elbow that flared up a day before the Bruin’s March 14th game against the Chicago Blackhawks. This will be Bergeron’s fourth straight game missing from that top-line center spot that has undoubtedly been missing Bergeron as Tomas Nosek, and Jack Studnicka have taken turns filling in. In Bergeron’s absence, the Bruins have been able to go 2-1-0 over the three games as they took on the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, and Montreal Canadiens, with the lone loss being a 4-2 defeat in Minnesota.
The Bruins were hopeful to have Bergeron back for their tilt against a deep Tampa Bay Lightning team tonight at 7 Pm EST as the Boston kicks off a five-game homestead. Bergeron’s good news is that he has been back on the ice participating in practice and leading the team stretches as he works his way back from the injury. At this point, it’s just a matter of the team doctors and training staff erring on the side of caution and ensuring the infection is entirely out of Bergeron’s system. Bergeron’s next available game he can suit up for will be Saturday’s matchup against the New York Islanders as the Bruins welcome back Zdeno Chara to Boston for what may be his last game ever at TD Garden.
