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Patrice Bergeron to be re-evaluated in four weeks

November 20, 2018, 1:32 PM ET [23 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In what has become a common theme for the Boston Bruins, the team announced on Tuesday that forward Patrice Bergeron will be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering an injury in Friday’s loss to the Dallas Stars.

Bergeron suffered a rib and sternoclavicular injury when he was driven into the boards by the Stars’ Radek Faksa. With Bergeron on IR, the Bruins recalled Colby Cave from Providence. Leading Providence in scoring, Cave has six goals and 12 assists in 15 games played.

It’s hard to look at a situation where you lose your best all-around forward, and take any positives from it, but there is at least one potential positive that comes from this: a bigger role for Anders Bjork.

The second-year forward has had a strange year. He’s been solid for the Bruins, despite a stat line that doesn’t quite account for that statement. With one goal and two assists in 18 games, Bjork’s numbers are certainly underwhelming. However, I don’t put all the blame on him.

He’s been bunkered down by a rotation of less talented linemates. But with Bergeron out of the lineup this past Saturday in Arizona, Bjork was bumped all the way up to the first line alongside David Krejci and David Pastrnak.

Bjork’s speed—regardless of who is on his line—makes him a candidate to turn a simple breakout into an odd-man rush. Skating alongside Pastrnak should only help the cause.

When the Bruins recalled Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson earlier this month, plopping him next to Bjork, you saw the immediate change in Bjork’s game. The speed at which he played at increased, his effort increased, and his all-around game increased. Credit adding speed to his line for that.

But now with the line juggling back in the mix thanks to the injury to Bergeron, head coach Bruce Cassidy knew he had to pair Bjork with speed.

Pastrnak is off to a career start, losing Bergeron is going to hamper that a bit. But Cassidy and the Bruins hope the speed and skillset Bjork brings to the table won’t cause too much of a drop off for Pastrnak and what is now the Bruins’ top line.

Bjork has had his battles with consistency since arriving to the Bruins last season. But these next four weeks may very well be his best chance to take that next step.

A next step the Bruins will need someone to take without Bergeron.
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