SUNRISE, Fla. — Patrice Bergeron did not travel with the Bruins here for Games 3 and 4, but according to coach Jim Montgomery, the Bruins’ captain is “likely” to play in Game 5 when the series shifts back to Boston.
Meanwhile, goalie Linus Ullmark did not participate in the morning skate at Florida Live Arena and Montgomery termed him a “game-time decision.” What Ullmark’s issue is was not clear. When asked if Ullmark was still feeling the effects of the lower body injury he suffered in the second to last game of the season against Washington when he had to pull himself out of the game in the third period, Montgomery said “I don’t believe so, no.”
If Ullmark can’t go, that would mean Jeremy Swayman will get his first start of the playoffs. Brandon Bussi is here as the third goalie.
This is the playoffs, of course, in which you must take anything a club says about an unavailable player with a jaundiced eye. When Bergeron left the game in Montreal, the club was quick to say that it was for “precautionary” reasons. Now Friday’s contest is the third playoff game he’s had to miss.
The heat has been turning up on the Bruins for their decision to play all their regulars (minus-Ullmark) for the final regular-season game in Montreal, but Montgomery defended the decision, alluding to the fact that Bergeron and some other players got rest during the final month of the season.
“Our hindsight is we don’t have any reservations about what we did, because we laid it out with where were in the regular season with four weeks to play,” said Montgomery. “We talked to sports science. (GM Don Sweeney) and I talked about if we have a chance to rest people, we’re going to rest them. And then we consulted with Bergy. And I think he missed five games. We wanted, and I wanted, and Bergy wanted the last two games to ramp up to get in a rhythm for the playoffs. Life happens. Unfortunately, he tweaked something in the last game. Even in hindsight, we’d still do it the same way. That’s how it’s easy to move forward when you have no regret with what you did because it was a well thought-out plan.”
In speaking in French to a Quebec-based reporter, Montgomery sad that the injury Bergeron suffered could have happened at home as easily as it could have in a game.
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Meanwhile, according to the morning line rushes, Matt Grzelcyk will be back in the lineup and skate with Charlie McAvoy. Dmitry Orlov dropped to a third pair on the right side with Derek Forbort with Connor Clfton a scratch. It appeared as though Nick Foligno, who missed the last month and half of the seaosn with a lower body injury, would also be scratched in favor of Jakub Lauko. All four forward lines were scrambled.
All four forward lines were changed.
“So, you know how you do the lotto balls? We spit ’em out and I liked how they came out,” cracked Montgomery. “There’s a method to how we feel the lines will help us tonight.”
One unit had Brad Marchand skating with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic.
“I think Trent’s a player that’s had a real good regular season for us and has had moments in the playoffs when he’s been in the rght areas, the hard areas and we need to get more opportunities in those hard areas so we think that could be a real heavy line for us.”
As for the possibility of the rookie Lauko going in on a fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Garnet Hathaway, Montgomery looked at the jump he gives the team.
“If he plays, it’s going to be just his speed. He draws penalties, he makes it hard on defensemen to have good gaps because they have to respect his speed. If they try to have a tight gap, he can spring for breakaways,” Montgomery said. “A lot of times, that’s how he draws penalties. And he’s really tenacious on pucks. He’s a real good forechecker, he hits well, creates turnovers. If he gets the opportunity, that’s where the line of thinking is.”
Grzelcyk, who was scratched for the first two games, was eager to get back in.
“Obviously, it’s tough watching. You’re a lot more nervous that way. You’d rather be part of the group, trying to make sure that I’m staying engaged and make sure if I come back in, I’m playing with confidence,” Grzelcyk said.
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Frederic was livid at the end of Game 2 and his fuming continued into the TD Garden hallway. At the end of an altercation with Ryan Lomberg. Frederic said that Lomberg was trying to cut off his air supply when the two players were wrestling on the ice.
“I was being choked a little bit and couldn’t breathe, maybe panicked a little too early, but yeah, it was getting close to where the lights were going to turn off for a second. I’ve never seen that one. It is what it is,” Frederic said.
How did he plan on keeping his emotions in check for Game 3.
“Yeah, I just have to play hard. It’ll give me a little extra motivation. I’ll try not to react in a negative way that would affect the team. Just go play hard. And I think it will fuel me a little bit more. I’m excited to play tonight, even more than I normally am,” Frederic said.
