Most up-to-date update on Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron’s status for Game 1 initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

When Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron left Thursday night’s frequent season finale against the Montreal Canadiens early with an upper physique injury, head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters right after the game that the veteran center was “fine”.

In reality, the team’s tweet throughout the game announcing Bergeron would not return to the action at the Bell Centre used the word “precautionary.”

Bergeron did not practice Saturday and he did not skate with his teammates on Sunday, either.

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What is going on? Will he play Monday evening when the Bruins open the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden with Game 1 of their very first-round series against the Florida Panthers?

“That is to be decided tomorrow,” Bruins basic manager Don Sweeney told reporters Sunday at Warrior Ice Arena. “If he feels effectively sufficient, he’ll play. … Patrice does not will need further days of practice. If he feels improved, he’ll play.”

When asked if Bergeron is dealing with an illness or an injury, Sweeney responded, “a small bit of each.”

We all know how significant Bergeron is to the Bruins’ accomplishment in all 3 zones. He has scored 20-plus objectives in ten consecutive seasons, he’s the most effective defensive forward in the sport and he’s 1 of the most effective leaders on and off the ice.

Bergeron is also 1 of the toughest players in the league and has shown quite a few instances in preceding playoff runs that he’s capable of playing via discomfort.

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If Bergeron is unable to play in Game 1, the most most likely situation from a lineup viewpoint is Pavel Zacha moving up to center the very first line with Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk. Zacha is a all-natural center but has played largely left wing throughout his very first season in Boston.

Sweeney stated he has “a lot” of self-assurance in Zacha getting capable to play effectively at center if necessary.

Puck drop for Game 1 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.