By: Tim Dumas | Follow me on Twitter @TimDumas
Last summer’s uncertainty has returned: will they or won’t they? The seasons have changed, but the question marks remain for Boston Bruins elder statesmen Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
The playing status for the veteran forwards for Wednesday’s game five at home against Florida is again up in the air, much like it was last off-season when Bergeron and Krejci held out until August before finally signing one-year contracts to return for their 19th and 16th seasons, respectively, with the Bruins.
The pair did not play in last weekend’s games in Florida, which were both won by the Bruins, who lead the best-of-seven series three games to one. Bergeron hasn’t played since the regular season finale in his native Montreal on April 13, while Krejci did play in the first two games of the Florida series, earning an assist in the team’s 3-1 victory in game two.
Bergeron appears to be closer to a return than Krejci. The Bruins captain skated before Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena; Krejci did not, and his injury is being further evaluated. In the nine games that Bergeron has missed during the regular season and playoffs, the Bruins have won eight.
But imagine the best-case scenario for Wednesday night. Both players return, Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman throw their arms skyward in yet another winning goalie hug, and the Bruins shake hands with the Panthers after eliminating them and earning a few extra days off before the next series against either Toronto or Tampa.
The Bruins certainly have enough depth to overcome any potential future absences of Bergeron and Krejci, but having your captain as well as your third-leading career playoff scorer (Krejci, 125 points, two behind Bergeron) in the lineup would provide an emotional boost.
The uncertainty of a Bruins captain returning for a potential series-clinching playoff game harkens back to a similar situation 33 years ago. The Bruins and the Hartford Whalers opened the 1990 post-season in what was then called the Adams Division semifinals. The Bruins, who led the NHL with 101 points during the regular season, were the heavy favorites. The Whalers were … the Whalers.
The franchise was known more for its time as the New England Whalers of the now-defunct World Hockey Association when Gordie Howe played with his sons Mark and Marty. The Hartford Whalers won just one playoff series in 18 NHL seasons before becoming the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.
But against the Bruins in 1990, the Whalers forced a game seven. Boston captain Ray Bourque was out of the lineup with a hip injury since game two, and his availability for the series-deciding game at the Garden wasn’t known until he skated during warmups. His first appearance 52 seconds into the game drew a standing ovation.
The fans rose to their feet again just 38 seconds later when Bourque assisted on rookie John Byce’s first NHL goal in an eventual 3-1 victory as the Bruins later advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, who won that series in five games.
The fate of Bergeron and Krejci may become a daily question as the playoffs advance. Same as it was last summer.
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