Yesterday, for the first time in 120 days, Patrice Bergeron hit the ice.
While his teammates, who capped a five-game, nine-point road trip Saturday with a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay, had yesterday off, Bergeron twirled around the Ristuccia Arena sheet for approximately 10 minutes. It was the first time Bergeron had laced up his skates since suffering a career-threatening injury Oct. 27 at TD Banknorth Garden.
Bergeron, who was diagnosed with a Grade 3 concussion and a broken nose when he was decked into the end boards by Philadelphia defenseman Randy Jones, is hoping to return to the team this season.
Bergeron had been stretching, working out on an elliptical machine, and lifting light weights at Ristuccia Arena, keeping his heartrate below 120 beats per minute. Yesterday's 10-minute spin, characterized as "very light" by general manager Peter Chiarelli, was no more intense than his off-ice workouts, but Bergeron had set a goal to get back on skates this season.
So in Chiarelli's view, yesterday's skate was just as important for Bergeron mentally - he could take satisfaction in knowing that he had reached the on-ice stage of his comeback. Bergeron, however, still is not considered close to returning to action.
In November, Bergeron was placed on long-term injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 27. The Bruins would have been able to exercise a long-term injury exception to replace part or all of Bergeron's $4.75 million annual salary via trade or free agency. But Chiarelli never used the exception because there was a flicker of hope Bergeron could return this season.
