BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron’s 2013-14 campaign arguably was his best as an NHL player, but we might see an even better performance from the veteran center in the 2014-15 season.
Bergeron ended the preseason with a hat trick in Boston’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at TD Garden. He finished the preseason as the Bruins’ leading goal scorer with four tallies, and played at a mid-season level at both ends of the ice.
The 29-year-old center, who scored 30 goals (second-highest single-season total of his career) and tallied 61 points last season, helped the Bruins erase a 3-1 deficit Saturday with two third-period goals, the last of which came on the power play.
To watch all three of Bergeron’s goals from Saturday night, click here.
— The Johnny Boychuk trade that was made earlier in the day was pretty much the only topic discussed in the post-game locker room availability.
“We’re going to miss him. He was a great teammate for us, a great player as well,” Bergeron said. “He always went to battle every night and we won a Cup together, so definitely a guy that we’re all close to and (we) wish him all the best in Long Island.
“We had depth on defense and I think everybody knew that we had eight guys and that it was an option, something that might happen. And it was Johnny. So, we have plenty of confidence in all the guys that are here right now. That being said, he was definitely a big part of our defense. But, like I said, I feel confident with all the guys I have.”
— The Bruins also announced that forwards Jordan Caron and Craig Cunningham, as well as defenseman David Warsofsky were placed on waivers. Goaltender prospect Malcolm Subban was one of seven other players assigned to the Providence Bruins (AHL).
— David Krejci left the game in the second period after falling on a forecheck and hitting the boards. B’s head coach Claude Julien said it was something “very, very minor” and “there won’t be an issue.”
— Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak shot for Boston in the shootout but failed to score. Andrej Nestrasil and Gustav Nyquist scored for the Red Wings.
— Spooner failed to put a shot on net after scoring twice in Friday night’s 6-1 win over the New York Islanders. He also went 1-for-8 in the faceoff circle. He struggled mightily in the faceoff dot during his time with Boston last season.
— Boston finished the preseason 3-2-2. It opens the regular season at home on Wednesday, Oct. 8 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
