Center Patrice Bergeron is expected to miss the start of the conference finals against the Lightning, meaning others — not just rookie Tyler Seguin — will be shuffled around and asked to step up in his absence.
Forwards Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly, who were both picked up around the NHL trade deadline earlier this year, have stepped up tremendously this postseason and they'll be asked to take that intensity ever further. With Bergeron out, Kelly is expected to slide up and take his spot as head coach Claude Julien's second-line center. With Kelly between Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand, Peverley will likely take center between Seguin and Michael Ryder as third-line center. Both lines were clicking in the first two rounds and the B's will need such depth if they want to advance pass the high-octane Lightning and into the Stanley Cup finals.
Because the loss of Bergeron means the loss of 57 regular-season points, the B's offense will need all the help it can get and that's where defenseman Tomas Kaberle can step in. The former Maple Leafs defenseman was brought aboard to pilot the power play, and although the team has been struggling on the man-advantage, Kaberle can be a big difference maker against the Bolts.
Which Bruins trade deadline acquisition will play biggest role against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference finals?survey software
