BRIGHTON, Massachusetts – Following a consultation with doctors, Patrice Bergeron will not be able to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, as the Boston Bruins had planned. The 36-year-old will instead try to return on Saturday afternoon against the New York Islanders at TD Garden after doctors cleared him to play following a surgical surgery for an elbow infection.
After the infection erupted during the team’s road game against the Blackhawks on March 15, Bergeron will miss his fourth consecutive game. Bruins center prospect Jack Studnicka will once more take over and center the No. 1 line between Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk.
He’s out tonight because we have awful news on that one. It came as a little surprise. “We believed he would be cleared at the start of the day, but the doctors had other ideas,” Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy stated. “On Saturday, we’ll consider [a Bergeron comeback].” Jack is going [back] inside.
In other news, the Boston Bruins will start Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton as their tough and physical third pairing against the Bolts on Thursday night, with Mike Reilly being the healthy scratch against the Lightning. Based on Thursday morning, this is the anticipated starting lineup for the Boston Bruins versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
