Everything that Bergeron did on Thursday night was impressive. The 36-year-old registered his seventh career hat trick (six of which have come since 2018) in the second period before capping off his second career four-goal game (his first came on January 6, 2018, against Carolina) with a nifty tally off the rush late in the third period.
Per NHL Stats, Bergeron is the fifth player in Bruins history to record a hat trick at 36 or older, joining Johnny Bucyk (six), Jean Ratelle, Dit Clapper, and Dave Andreychuk and the 12th oldest in league history to score four goals. It was his second career natural hat trick (three straight goals).
"He's such a dominant player in the league," said Marchand, who picked up the primary assist on all four of Bergeron's goals. "He's had a lot of good looks earlier on…sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. Everything he touched tonight went in…when he gets on a roll, he really gets on a roll.
"He's still so effective for our team and the heart and soul for our team."
Bergeron entered the contest without a goal through the first seven games of the season, but left TD Garden on Thursday tied with Marchand for the team lead. As Cassidy explained earlier this week, he was hardly concerned about his captain's production and believed that once the dam broke, the goals would come in bunches.
"He is too good of a player to keep him down for long, and that whole line, to be honest with you," said Cassidy. "I think Bergy has had some looks that haven't gone in - not as many as we'd all like...sometimes you get one and it snowballs a little when it hasn't gone well. You knew that sooner or later than would happen."
Bergeron was convinced, too. After nearly two decades in the NHL, the four-time Selke Trophy winner relied on his experience to get him through his scoreless stretch without pressing, while also zoning in on making sure that the other areas of his game remained up to his standard.
"Honestly, I think it's one of those things where I have been in the league long enough to know it's going to come back, right?" said Bergeron, who also won 16 of 19 faceoffs in18:51 of ice time against Detroit. "I have the experience that I can rely on. I think it's about making sure you don't force plays and you don't try to think about the end result but really go back to the details and begin to play the right way and put yourself in a good position.
"That's how I was approaching it…obviously you want to produce, but that being said, I think the last thing you can do is put pressure on your shoulders. It's going to make it worse for yourself. But doing the right things and making sure you are doing things to help your team win."