"He's checked most of [the boxes]," coach Jim Montgonery said Wednesday. "He'll take warmups and we'll make a game-time decision."
As for who will make that decision, Mongomery said: "Everybody. Majority of it's going to be Patrice's, though. As long as he feels after warmups that he feels that everything is good, then he's going to play."
The Bruin lead the best-of-7 series 3-1 and can clinch a trip to the second round with a win on Wendesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SN, NESN, BSFL).
Bergeron, who had 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 78 games during the regular season, took part in practice with the team at Warrior Ice Arena on Tuesday after not traveling with the team to South Florida for Games 3 and 4. He has not played in the series because of an upper-body injury.
"Today was a good day," the center said Tuesday. "We'll see tomorrow how I feel. I'm not anticipating any setbacks. So far so good.
"Feeling good. Felt good on the ice today."
Asked if he might have to manage the injury through the rest of the postseason, Bergeron said, "That's a good question. I think it's one of those things where you try to get back as quickly as possible. At the same time, you're trying to be smart. The training staff has done a tremendous job. I don't know. I'm just taking it day by day."
While Bergeron is expected to be back, forward David Krejci (upper body) will remain out ater missing Games 3 and 4.
"Progressing well," coach Jim Montgomery said. "But he's still not available Wednesday."
Montgomery said if there is a Game 6 on Friday, Krejci "potentially" could be available.
Bergeron skated between Tyler Bertuzzi and David Pastrnak at practice Tuesday, splitting up from usual linemate Brad Marchand, who skated with Charlie Coyle and Nick Foligno. But Montgomery cautioned he was just looking at options.
RELATED: [Complete Bruins vs. Panthers series coverage]
Bergeron said it has been difficult not to be on the ice with the team for the first four games of the series.
"You want to be out there with the boys and battle and compete," he said. "You go through a full season and you work hard to get to this point, obviously you want to be out there. It is frustrating. That being said, now we're here and the boys have done a great job."
Bergeron last played April 13, the final game of the regular season, against the Montreal Canadiens. Like Montgomery, Bergeron defended the Bruins' decision to play him -- and the rest of the regulars -- in the final two games of the season (also against the Washington Capitals on April 11).
"It's frustrating. It is," Bergeron said. "At the same time, you have no control over it. … There is a plan in place. I've missed four games to heal some of the stuff, some of the bumps and bruises of the year, and 'Monty' has discussed about what he wanted for the last week. He wanted the full lineup to be against Washington and Montreal. It's a coincidence that it was Montreal as the last game. If it would have been any other team, I would have been in the lineup, as everyone else was in the lineup for that game, as you saw. It's unfortunate (about the injury), but that could have happened the week before or last week."
Bergeron was in contact with the Bruins while back in Boston, though, "I don't know if that really did anything or not," he said.
"It was definitely different," Bergeron said. "It felt like it was more nerve-wracking than when you're on the ice, on the bench, you feel like you can actually do something about it. I don't know if helpless is the right word, but you'd like to be out there and help the guys a little bit more.
"I was cheering and screaming at the TV a few times."
The Panthers will get a boost with defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Anthony Duclair returning for Game 5. Ekblad (upper body) and Duclair (undisclosed) did not play in Game 4 on Sunday.
Forwards Sam Bennett and Ryan Lomberg did not practice with the Panthers on Tuesday and one of them will be a game-time decision, coach Paul Maurice said.
