TORONTO — Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was ruled out of Thursday’s playoff game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an upper-body injury.
The team made the surprise announcement minutes before warmup of Game 4, while adding he’s day-to-day.
The 32-year-old showed no signs that he would be out of the lineup as he spoke with media earlier in the day in the Bruins’ locker room.
"We’re approaching this game like we have from the start of the series," Bergeron said hours before puck drop. "Give it everything we have tonight."
Bergeron has five assists through the first three games of Boston’s first-round matchup against the Leafs, which the Bruins lead 2-1.
Centre Riley Nash replaced Bergeron on the top line alongside wingers Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
At Wednesday’s off-day practice Nash took some line rushes alongside Marchand and Pastrnak, however head coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday when asked that it wasn’t for any specific reason.
"We’re just managing (Bergeron) a little bit that’s all," said Cassidy. "Riley’s played there during the year. We’re just playing around with things… I guess that’s all there is to it."
Bergeron was also nominated as a finalist for the Selke Trophy on Thursday for the seventh season in a row. It’s given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.
He’s the only active player to win the award four times, taking home the trophy in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
Bergeron missed 13 games from Feb. 27 through March 23 with a lower-body injury. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 33 assists for 63 points with 26 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating in 64 games.
TORONTO – Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Tuukka Rask made 31 saves as the Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday to grab a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk had the other goals for the Bruins, who can wrap up the Eastern Conference quarterfinal when they host Game 5 on Saturday at Boston’s TD Garden. David Pastrnak added two assists.
Game 6, if necessary, would be played Monday back at Air Canada Centre.
Tomas Plekanec replied for the Leafs, who got 18 stops from Frederik Andersen.
Patrice Bergeron, part of a top line that combined for 20 points in the Bruins’ two emphatic home victories to open the series, was a surprise late scratch with an upper-body injury. Riley Nash took his spot between Marchand and Pastrnak.
Marchand snapped a 1-1 tie for Boston with 3:05 left in the second after the Bruins were whistled for icing. Leafs head coach Mike Babcock put his top line, centred by Auston Matthews, out hoping to pounce on a tired group, but Nash won the draw to Adam McQuaid, whose clearing attempt up the boards skipped past Toronto defenceman Jake Gardiner.
After a two day break we’re finally back for game four! The Bruins are once again playing the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.
2018 NHL Playoffs Round 1 Toronto vs Boston: Game # 4
Time: 7:00 PM (puck drop probably at 7:15)
Location: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Broadcast CBC / NBCSN
UPDATE: Patrice Bergeron will not play in tonight’s game (Upper body, day-to-day). — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2018
ICYMI
Here’s what else we wrote about today
It’s Mattinen vs Rasanen in the conference finals - ElSeldo
Eemeli Rasanen and the Kingston Frontenacs will take on Nicolas Mattinen and the Hamilton Bulldogs in an all yellow and black OHL Eastern Conference Final.
Other Games Tonight
Capitals @ Blue Jackets Game # 4
Time: 7:30 PM
Broadcast: Sportsnet / USA Network
