Fear not, fans of a Boston Bruins squad that’s dropped two games in a row in disappointingly passive fashion, reinforcements are on the way.

On the heels of a ho-hum loss against the New York Islanders, and experiencing the same fate against Justin Peters and the Carolina Hurricanes on Sat. night, dropping a 4-2 contest in Raleigh capped by former Bruin Joe Corvo’s game-winning power-play goal, hope has come with a Monday morning skate that saw a heavy 15-forward lineup, nine defensemen blue-line, and the always steady Anton Khudobin and Tuukka Rask tandem emerge from the locker room to take the ice. But of the club’s 24-man skate this morning, the potential return of the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron by miles outweighs any potential line-matching put forth by B’s coach Claude Julien.

Missing the last six games with what team doctors diagnosed as a moderate concussion (the fourth confirmed concussion of his career), and after traveling with the club to Carolina this past weekend, the Boston alternate captain took full participation in the club's skate this morning, and could find himself back in the lineup tonight (he says he's ready), pending the final approval from the Bruins' doctors.

But even if they do, is it the right call for a Boston club that needs just one point to clinch a playoff spot in the topsy-turvy Eastern Conference? I have my doubts.

Returning less than two weeks after a 'moderate' concussion is downright dangerous, especially for a player that suffered two major concussions in just a 14-month span barely five years ago. "When you’ve been through what Patrice [Bergeron] has been through, we’re always going to make sure we’re extra safe with him, even if it take some extra time we’re willing to do that," Julien said of No. 37, acknowledging the history and risks that come with an early clear for Bergeron. "He knows we’re out there for the best interest of him as and individual, not as a player."

A potentially unpopular opinion, but an opinion nevertheless -- rest Bergeron for at least another game. You're 4-0-0 against the Ottawa Senators in 2013, and his presence may not have the make-or-break effect that it would against a team like Pittsburgh or Montreal, for example. You're in the playoffs barring an impossibly pathetic meltdown, so give him another day or two to recover.

In addition to Patrice Bergeron, fellow concussed B's forward Brad Marchand skated with the club this morning. Unlike Bergeron, however, Marchand's return seems a little farther down the road, as he's yet to participate in contact drills.

Forward Carl Soderberg will join the club either today or tomorrow, and dependent on how practice goes, is likely to suit up for the first time on Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres. The 27-year-old Soderberg will wear No. 34 in Boston.

If Bergeron's a go, expect Jay Pandolfo and Jordan Caron to be your healthy scratches tonight.

Tuukka Rask was the first goalie off and is expected to get the start in net for the Bruins as they go for the season sweep of Craig Anderson and the Sens.

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