Bruins C Bergeron returns vs. Capitals

BOSTON (TICKER) —Hours after being cleared to play, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron returned to the ice for Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

Bergeron had been out of action since suffering his second concussion in as many seasons during a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on December 20.

“Just relief of getting a chance to be back soon,” Bergeron told the Boston Globe after being cleared to play earlier Tuesday. “There was relief. I was happy.”

There had been concern the 23-year-old could miss most of season, similar to 2007-08, when a concussion limited him to just 10 games.

“Under the circumstances, this is real positive and great news for our hockey club,” Boston coach Claude Julien told the Globe.

Bergeron has recorded four goals and 14 assists in 31 games this season for the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins.

The Bruins also welcomed the returns of right wing Milan Lucic and defenseman Andrew Ference.

Lucic had been out since January 8 because of a shoulder injury, while Ference missed the last 31 games with a fractured right tibia.