“I’m just trying to go for his stick and the puck,’’ the Bruins center explained after yesterday’s practice at Ristuccia Arena. “I’m getting the stick on the puck and trying to retrieve it. Sometimes when you go in on the forecheck, you try and go for the big hit. But then you forget about the puck. Nothing happens out of it.
“So I’m trying to play the body. But at the same time, trying to play the puck and get it back. It worked out.’’
By leaning into Alzner with his right hip, Bergeron knocked the defenseman off the puck. At the same time, Bergeron reached for the puck with his stick. Once he settled the puck, he knew that Brad Marchand would be offering support to his left. Seconds later, after Bergeron gave the puck to his linemate, Marchand had scored what would be the game-winning goal.
Such sequences are becoming routine for Bergeron in what might be his best NHL season. Through 51 games, Bergeron is the Bruins’ leading scorer with 15 goals and 31 assists. He is averaging 18:38 of ice time per game, most of any Black-and-Gold forward. Bergeron has won 57.3 percent of his faceoffs. The 26-year-old is on pace to score 74 points, which would be a career high.
For most of the season, Bergeron has been the lead dog for young pups Marchand and Tyler Seguin, both second-year NHLers. Together, Bergy and Da Bratz have combined to form the most consistent of the Bruins’ four lines.
Appropriately, coach Claude Julien calls on Bergeron to do everything save brew a pot of pregame coffee.
“He’s so reliable,’’ Julien said. “Most of the time, he’s the first backchecker. He takes so much pride in doing his job down low. His wingers, their job is to take the slot and shots from the point. That’s not to take anything away from Tyler. He’s a plus player.
“That line as a whole has done a pretty good job. [Bergeron] has played with some more experienced players in the past. When you look at it, those are two guys in their second year. Tyler was not even a full-time player in his first year. Marsh is in his second year. Those young guys have done a tremendous job adapting to that.’’
