Patrice Bergeron, Wife Welcome First Child; Bruins Center Will Play Vs. Flyers

BOSTON — Say hello to baby Bergeron.

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and his wife, Stephanie, on Wednesday welcomed into the world their first child, a boy named Zack.

Bergeron missed Wednesday’s morning skate to attend the birth — coach Claude Julien initially said his absence was for “personal reasons” — but team president Cam Neely announced later in the day that Bergeron would play Wednesday night as the Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.

Bergeron is coming off his best game of Boston’s young season: a two-goal, one-assist, eight-shot effort in Saturday’s 5-3 road win over the Arizona Coyotes. His five points (three goals, two assists) rank third on the team behind David Krejci (nine) and Torey Krug (six), and all three of his goals have come on the power play.

Winger Matt Beleskey also missed morning skate with an upper body injury. He will not play against the Flyers.

Thumbnail photo via Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports Images