Bruins' Bergeron 'optimistic' he can go in Game 5
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron is hopeful he can return for Saturday's Game 5 of the playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing Game 4 due to an upper-body injury.
Bergeron was scratched shortly prior to Thursday's game.
However, he did do some skating on Friday's off day and early Saturday at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of Game 5 and says he's "optimistic" he can play, so long as he can convince the team's medical staff.
"I'm optimistic. Again it's about now ... selling it to the other side," Bergeron said.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who has said Bergeron would be a game-time decision, also seems convinced after watching Bergeron skate.
"I anticipate he will play," Cassidy said.
Cassidy said Friday that the fact the Bruins lead the series 3-1 will have no bearing on Saturday's decision-making process.
"The last game, 90 percent of the time, is the hardest one," Cassidy said. "I can pretty much tell you if he's cleared to play, he'll be in the lineup. But that's a medical decision that he has to be comfortable with, as well."
The 32-year-old Bergeron had five assists in the first three games of the series before the injury.
Bergeron had 30 goals and 33 assists in 64 games this season. He missed a portion of the campaign with a broken foot.
--Field Level Media
