Bruins announce discouraging update on Patrice Bergeron

The Boston Bruins took care of business in Game 1 of their first round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Florida Panthers thanks to goals from usual suspects David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Jake DeBrusk. The best regular season team in the League is now only 15 victories away from their first championship since 2011.

However, absent from the lineup in Game 1 was captain and longtime Bruins veteran Patrice Bergeron, who left Boston's regular season finale against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper body injury. And now, his status for tonight's Game 2 has been determined.

According to the Bruins, Bergeron will not be suiting up tonight. What's more, it's because of an injury, not due to an illness.

“He’s progressing well; he’s day-by-day, but he’s a no for tonight,” head coach Jim Montgomery said.

The good news is that Bergeron did skate on his own this morning at the Bruins practice facility: 

What are the chances that Bergeron isn't able to suit up for the entire series? 

“I think you are always looking at the situation, and everything goes into the situation,” Montgomery replied. "Where he’s at is No. 1; No. 2 it would be – just like the regular season – rest versus play. Where is the series at? All those factors.”

“He’s hard to keep. …he’s such a competitor; obviously, everybody knows he wants to be in, but the great thing about him is his ability to put his own personal feelings and still lead our group like he does,” Montgomery continued. “That speaks volumes about his leadership qualities.”

The Bruins and Panthers get back underway in their series with Game 2 tonight from TD Garden starting at 7:30 PM EST.