While Bergeron is good to go, both David Krejci and Joakim Nordstrom will miss the season's first matchup with Toronto due to upper-body injuries. As such, David Backes will be back in the lineup as the fourth-line right wing after sitting out the last three games as a healthy scratch.
"Been a few games, so excited for the opportunity - not at the expense of teammates being injured or not being able to play, but these opportunities present themselves and what can I do with it? That's up to me tonight," said Backes, who will skate alongside Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly. "Been working hard, trying to stay ready, and here we go."
Backes has not played since Oct. 10 in Colorado, though Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy explained that the winger's absence from the lineup has more to do with finding the right pieces than his play on the ice. Backes is a plus-1 with eight shots on goal in three games this season.
"He's actually played well," said Cassidy. "We're trying to get a look at where [Brett] Ritchie fits, he's a new addition. They're similar players, so is [Chris] Wagner. We like what Wagner does with Kuraly and Nordy. They're a real good checking line.
"He got pushed out more about some of the other guys with what they bring and less about what he's doing, which is not always fair. But that's the way we're doing it now early on. There was going to be some sort of rotation.
"I respect the fact that he's a good pro. His body language is excellent, he's not dragging it around the room. He's a good leader for us that way."
Backes said his time on the ninth floor has been more of a mental challenge as he tries to get a grasp on where he fits into the Bruins lineup.
"Knowing that I was really ready for the season and kind of hit those speed bumps or hit the pause button," Backes explained. "Want to just get into a rhythm, find some line mates, get that consistency, that chemistry…you want your team to win first and foremost, then you want to be a part of it and contributing to those wins. Everyone in this room feels that."
