Bruins' Patrice Bergeron out Thursday vs. Hurricanes with head injury
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron exited what became a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period of Tuesday's game after he seemed to suffer a head injury as the result of an incidental collision with Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby:
Per Amalie Benjamin of the NHL's website, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed Wednesday that Bergeron won't be available for Thursday's home matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes because the 36-year-old is dealing with an unspecified upper-body injury.
"It's involving his head, so we have to be careful," Cassidy explained. "This is a guy that's had a head injury in the past. We want to make sure everything checks out. He wants to make sure everything checks out. In the immediate term here, he didn't skate today, won't play tomorrow and hopefully he's in good shape the next few days. But we're going to obviously take as much time as we need."
According to ESPN stats, Bergeron is third on the Bruins with 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) this season.
Additionally, the NHL's website notes that Boston forward Brad Marchand will have an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday after he delivered a punch to Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry and then hit Jarry with a high-stick late in the defeat:
While Bergeron's status for Saturday's contest at the Ottawa Senators is unclear, Marchand may be sidelined for a handful of games:
The Bruins head into Wednesday evening fourth in the Atlantic Division standings, eight points back of the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs.
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