Bergeron Helps Lift Bruins to Win Over Sabres

BUFFALO- Patrice Bergeron has battled through plenty of pain and discomfort during his 13-year NHL career.
Many of those ailments have been much worse than the bug he was clashing with Saturday afternoon. As such, the Bruins' alternate captain did not think twice about playing through it, despite having missed Friday morning's practice.
The Bruins are happy he suited up.
Bergeron tallied the eventual game-winning goal midway through the third period to lift Boston to a 2-1 victory over Buffalo at KeyBank Center.

"I was going to play," said Bergeron, who played 18 minutes, 56 seconds. "It was one of those things where you have to battle through it, drink as many fluids as you can this morning. I didn't have much to eat yesterday….so one of those days.
"It would have been nice to have a 7 o'clock game. But it's all right."

Bergeron's coach was not surprised by the center's decision - or performance.
"He just sucks it up," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "Patrice, you've got to do a heck of a lot to keep him out of the lineup. He's almost go to be strapped up in the bed not to come and play.
"He plays through a lot and that's why he's not only an unsung hero to our team in that way, but also a great player. Nothing stops him. It takes a lot to stop him from playing games.
"There was no doubt in our mind that he was going to come back here and play hard."
Leading, 1-0, on David Krejci's fourth goal of the season six minutes into the game, Bergeron padded the Bruins advantage at 7:44 of the third.
David Pastrnak picked up a loose puck in the slot and fired one on Buffalo goalie Robin Lehner. Bergeron swooped in, collected the rebound, and threw another shot toward goal that was deflected into the air.
Bergeron swatted the puck down to himself, before jamming home the loose puck for his fourth of the year.
"I'll take it, I'll tell you that," Bergeron said of his first goal since Nov. 19 against Winnipeg. "It was one of those - I think I've talked about that the last few games - where we weren't getting the second and third chances around the net.
"That was a perfect example right there where you just kind of keep pushing, keep trying to find the puck. Ultimately it bounced our way."

Buffalo responded less than two minutes later on Evander Kane's first goal of the season. But the Bruins avoided any further damage and closed the week with 7 out of a possible 8 points.
"We had to come back in the third and play a little hard, which we did," said Julien. "Managed to get that second goal and give us a bit of a cushion - it's a good thing that happened because they came back and scored one.
"But at the end of the game, I thought our team did a good job protecting the lead in the last five or so minutes."

Rask Stars Again

Tuukka Rask was locked in once again, making a season-high 35 saves to grab his 13th victory of the season. Most of his work came late, as Rask made 32 saves over the final two periods.
"Good again, especially on the PK," said Krejci. "Your goalie has to be your best player and he has been pretty much the whole season. He made some huge saves, kept us in the game and got the job done."
With blue liners Zdeno Chara and John-Michael Liles sidelined with injuries, the Bruins have allowed just six goals over the last four games.

Blidh Brings Energy in NHL Debut

Anton Blidh performed well in his NHL debut, delivering a game-high four hits and three shots on goal in just 10:12 of ice time.
"I want to play as much as I can. When I get the chance, I have to take it. I feel good," said Blidh. "Tried to play simple and when I got a chance to get pucks to the net I tried to do that."
Blidh, who started the game as the fourth-line right wing, got more of an opportunity after Matt Beleskey left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury.
"I thought he worked hard, competed hard. He was disciplined; he was going to the right place," said Julien. "He was making the right things happen. There's all the reasons in the world to trust the guy who does that, whether he's got experience in this league or not.
"When he plays the way he did, I'm fine with that, give him the ice time that he deserves. His grit, his determination to win battles is great. That's what got him here."
The 21-year-old Sweden native became the seventh player to make his NHL debut for the Bruins this season, joining Carlo, Austin Czarnik, Danton Heinen, Sean Kuraly, Rob O'Gara, and Zane McIntyre.

Beleskey Injured

Matt Beleskey left the game in the first period and did not return after colliding with Taylor Fedun in the neutral zone. It appeared to be a knee-on-knee collision. The team announced he had a lower-body injury.
"They haven't told me anything, obviously lower-body," said Julien. "You saw the hit on him - they told me he wasn't returning. I don't know, hopefully tomorrow I can give you a better sense of what's going on here. We would like our doctors to make those assessments before we release anything."