Bergeron Credits Team Effort for Early-Season Success

BOSTON - Patrice Bergeron rarely wants the spotlight. And even though it was shining brightly upon him on Monday afternoon, the Bruins' alternate captain was still trying to go about his business in the shadows.
But that is a difficult task when you are named the NHL's first star of the week.
Bergeron notched four goals and five assists - including his fourth career hat trick in the home opener - in three games from Oct. 8-14, to lead the league in scoring with nine points and pace the Black & Gold to three victories.

"I've said it for years, I just ride his coattails," said longtime linemate Brad Marchand, who had a goal and five assists in the three games. "He deserves the credit, he had phenomenal week. It's crazy to think about how he's playing right now based on the summer he's had and the training camp he had - he didn't play a whole lot, didn't practice a whole lot. So for him to come out the way he did, how hot he is, it's pretty awesome to see."

Bergeron, however, was not interested in taking credit for the domination of the Bruins' top line - which also included a stellar week for David Pastrnak (six goals, two assists in three games).
"I don't want any credit either," said Bergeron. "I'll just pass it to Pasta then…it's one of those things where you get that recognition, but at the same time, it goes with the work that we've put up as a team.
"We put up some good numbers offensively and there it is. It's always with the help of everyone chipping in and going at it."
Following his hat trick in the Bruins' 6-3 win over Ottawa on Monday, the 33-year-old added a goal and an assist in a season-high 19:08 of ice time during the B's 4-1 victory over Edmonton on Thursday, before finishing the week by tallying a season-high three assists in Boston's 8-2 win over Detroit on Saturday.
"Obviously it feels great," said Bergeron. "It's like anything, when you feel good you're making more plays and making things happen a little bit more on the ice…got to keep that going. You try to work on things that you find that can be better and so on.
"It's one of those things when the puck is going in you want to keep that going and you want to make sure you don't take it for granted."

Now in his 15th NHL season, Bergeron is tied for third in the NHL in scoring with 11 points in five games, while his 67 faceoff wins rank fourth in the league. Perhaps most impressive is all of that production comes despite the Quebec native having missed the entire preseason as he rehabbed from offseason groin surgery and subsequent back spasms.
"I think there's some truth to that and we talked about that heading into training camp," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked if veteran players might not need a lengthy training camp.
"Even if it was in China, how much would he need to play? How much does [Zdeno Chara] need to play, [David Krejci], guys over 30 that had a lot of years in the league? I don't know. It's a good one moving forward. Is two games enough? I think sometimes the player dictates that."

Martin Mourned

The Bruins family lost one of its own on Sunday when longtime NESN videographer John Martin passed way at the age of 51 following a long, courageous battle with ALS. Martin worked at NESN for 19 years and was a crucial part of the network's Bruins and Red Sox broadcasts, as well as its coverage of the Patriots and Celtics during this golden age of Boston sports.
Martin, who was diagnosed with ALS two years ago, was in Vancouver in 2011 when the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years and traveled often with the team.

"It's very sad news for us as a team because John was such a fun man to be around," said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. "And on behalf of the whole Bruins [organization] and our team I'd like to express deepest condolences to his wife, Adrienne, and his two daughters. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family and friends."
The veteran cameraman became a symbol of the fight against ALS after the formation of "Café Martin," the porch area at his home that acted as a meeting place for family and friends during his fight. This spawned a fundraising effort that included the creation of the now famous Café Martin hats that are commonly worn across on the Boston sports scene.
"We got to know him over the years," said Bergeron. "Our most sincere sympathy goes to his wife and his two daughters and his family and friends. It was very hard to hear the news. He was a tremendous guy, very energetic, always smiling, and he'll be dearly missed."

Boston, You're My Home

The success of Boston's professional sports teams has certainly not gone unnoticed by Bergeron, who since being drafted by the B's in 2003 has seen the city bask in the glory of nine championships between the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins.
"Of course I am," Bergeron said when asked is he's also a fan of the other teams in town. "I've been here for a while and you're drawn to it. The people of Boston are so passionate about sports that you kind of have to get on the wagon and cheer for the Sox and the Pats and Celtics and so son.
"Its always great, it seems like they're always doing great as well, so it's fun to watch and fun to follow…teams have done well since I've been here, basically.
"It's been a lot of fun to be part of a great challenge as an athlete, as well to want to push yourself and your teammates to be at your best."
When the Celtics open up their 2018-19 season on Tuesday night at TD Garden, it will mean all four teams are in season at the same time, with the Red Sox set to play Game 3 of their American League Championship series against the Astros on Tuesday afternoon and the Patriots sitting at 4-2 and fresh off a huge win over previously undefeated Kansas City on Sunday night.
"It's a privilege, it's very special, very unique that you have all four major sports and they all do well and they all consistently are in playoffs and competing for trophies and championships," said Chara. "It's nice to be following and being a fan. And they do the same for us as we do for them. It's very special…we wear the hats, we wear the t-shirts, we go to the games if we can. We are athletes, but at the same time we are just like any other kid."

After the majority of the Bruins roster made its way to Fenway for Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night, following the B's big 8-2 win over Detroit, Cassidy and son Cole were in attendance for Game 2 on Sunday.
"I got two tickets late, so we decided to take the game in," said Cassidy. "I saw that and I saw the end of the Patriots, so I guess it was win-win for me."