Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
I was a very happy Bruins fan last night. I wasn't just happy because of the utter dominance over the Montreal Canadiens as the Bruins took a 2-0 series lead. What made me happiest was the reemergence of Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron hasn't been the same player since he suffered his first concussion during a horrific hit against the Flyers last season. Ever since then he hasn't been the same player. To steal a phrase from NESN's Jack Edwards, he was the type of player to initiate contact. That contact would allow him to separate himself from the defender. The young star hadn't been doing that since the first concussion. He also appeared tentative when skating into corners. It was almost like he had his head on a swivel and was afraid of being hit. I can't even blame him, but one can't play with fear to be even a good player in this league.
His play got even worse after suffering a second concussion earlier this season. That all stopped last night. Bergeron looked like his old self again. He was initiating contact, was skating hard into the corners and even got his first five for fighting in his 5 year career. Jack Edwards touched on it a few times during the game, but the fact that Bergeron looked like his old self again is a huge development for a Bruins team that is looking to win the Stanley Cup. If he plays like this the rest of the playoffs, it adds another huge play maker to the likes of Phil Kessel, Mark Savard and David Krejci. Like I said before, Patrice Bergeron is in his 5th season and is still only 24 years old. If he can sustain this play, he still has plenty of time to get his career back on track and be a very good player in the National Hockey League.
