Bergeron glad to put this season behind him

If there are two offseason priorities for Patrice Bergeron before he starts his training program, they are the following:

Rest and fishing.

"I'm not going to think about anything else," said Bergeron before last night's 6-3 season-ending loss to the Senators .

It's been an especially trying season for the 21-year-old center. In 2005-06, Bergeron, as a second-year NHLer, busted out for a 31-42--73 line in 81 games.

Last summer, as the Bruins projected more growth in his game, Bergeron signed a five-year, $23.75 million deal that would make him a centerpiece of the club along with Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard.

But Year 1 didn't turn out the way he or the Bruins expected. Bergeron, who was named an alternate captain prior to the season, finished with 22 goals and 48 assists, 3 points shy of his 2005-06 total.

In December, Bergeron put together a 10-game point streak (6-11--17), the longest of his career. In November, he had a nine-game streak (2-10--12).

But Bergeron battled injuries (lower body, knocking him out for five games in February) and a lack of confidence; he didn't put together the consistent season -- he has the team's worst plus-minus rating at minus-28 -- that the Bruins expected from their No. 2 center.

"You start to think too much, then you start squeezing your stick on the ice," said Bergeron. "That's no way to go out there. You play to have fun. You pretty much just have to play. It's a fun game."

Bergeron manned the top of the left circle on the No. 1 power-play unit for most of the season. It's where he racked up 38 of his 70 points (54 percent).

But Bergeron only scored 30 even-strength points (and 2 shorthanded), making him a power-play specialist on a club that never generated consistent scoring during five-on-five situations.

"He's played through a lot of different things that have not been talked about or mentioned," said coach Dave Lewis, who didn't disclose the injuries Bergeron has battled. "Hopefully, next year he'll come to camp in the same kind of shape and get off to a real positive start. I just think there are things that lingered with him. He fought through them, but he didn't have the kind of season he thought he was going to have."

In 2005-06, Bergeron anchored Marco Sturm and Brad Boyes on Boston's top line. But the threesome didn't click consistently this season, and Boyes, Bergeron's closest friend on the team, was swapped out for Dennis Wideman at the trade deadline.

At the end of the season, Lewis, desperate for offense, even had Bergeron playing right wing alongside Sturm and Savard.

"At the start of the year, I was confident," said Bergeron. "I know I can do it. I know what's expected of me.

"At the same time, it's tough when the team's not having success. You start looking at yourself in the mirror."

Bergeron, who completed his third NHL season last night, is considered one of the team's veterans. However, he is younger than Brandon Bochenski, Chuck Kobasew, and Stanislav Chistov -- all forwards who are looking to gain traction in the NHL.

"I'm still 21," said Bergeron, who will celebrate his birthday July 24.

"There's always room to improve."

As he usually does when his health is good, Glen Murray led stretches during the morning skate.

Murray took one last twirl with his teammates in the morning, but he missed his 16th straight game last night because of an injured groin.

Murray said if it were a playoff game, he might have been able to play.

"I'm not sure what it is," Murray said when asked what went wrong with the team. "It's not just one individual. We need other guys to step up."

Murray has two years remaining on his contract, which pays him $4.15 million per season. This year, Murray was paired mostly with Savard on the No. 1 line, scoring 28 goals (the most of any Bruin) in 59 games.

"It's not my decision," Murray answered when asked if he likes the returning squad. "I get paid to go out and play hockey."

Andrew Ference (hand) was out of the lineup last night, missing his second game of the season. With Mark Mowers (shoulder) sidelined, Nate Thompson was recalled from Providence to give the Bruins 12 healthy forwards . . . Chistov will undergo surgery on his right knee later this month . . . Tim Thomas, who played his 66th game last night, won the Eddie Shore Award, given to the Bruin who exhibited exceptional hustle and determination. "Timmy has probably played better than anybody thought he could," said Lewis. "He's battled hard. He's one guy you know will give everything he has, and I think that's why the fans appreciate him." . . . Other Bruins winning awards were Savard (Elizabeth Dufresne Trophy, top player in home games) and Bergeron (John P. Bucyk Award, player who has contributed the most to charity). Kevin McNamara of Belmont Hill and Marissa Gentile of Tabor Academy won the John Carlton Memorial Award as top high school student-athletes in Eastern Massachusetts hockey . . . Kobasew (concussion) sat out his seventh straight game. Kobasew said he should be cleared for workouts soon . . . Here's to a job well done by Doug Wheeler, who produced his final game for NESN last night. He'll be missed around the rinks, not just for his ability to hunt down a cup of Starbucks in visiting cities.