NHL Buzz: Bergeron out at least two games for Bruins

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron did not play for the Bruins against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday and could be out at least one more game.
"Yeah, 'Bergy's' not here," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He's out. Previous injury that's kind of, I don't know quite how to describe it, kind of reemerged, so there's a risk of infection, so he went back to Boston, will be out tonight, will be out [at the Winnipeg Jets (on Friday)] and then we'll decide, or the doctors will decide after that. So he'll be out the next two at least."
Bergeron scored Tuesday in a 2-1 overtime win at the Chicago Blackhawks. Cassidy said the injury relates to a previous arm injury and is not related to an awkward fall in that game.
"We're just trying to be cautious about it," Cassidy said. "At the end of the day we don't want anything to come of it."
Tomas Nosek took Bergeron's spot between Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk, and Anton Blidh became the center on the fourth line with Nick Foligno and Curtis Lazar.
Bergeron scored 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 56 games this season. His 0.80 points per game are his fewest since 2016-17 (53 points in 79 games, 0.67). -- Jessi Pierce

St. Louis Blues

Tyler Bozak will be out at least four weeks for the Blues because of a lower-body injury.
The forward was injured in practice Tuesday, which coach Craig Berube initially called a "tweak," and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
"It's unfortunate. That's quite significant," Berube said. "… It's a loss for sure, unfortunate not only for us, but for him."
Bozak scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 47 games this season.
Forwards Pavel Buchnevich and Robert Thomas could play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, BSMW, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, ESPN LIVE).
Buchnevich, who scored 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 50 games, has missed three games in concussion protocol but practiced Tuesday and Wednesday. Thomas, who is second on the Blues in assists (36) and third in points (48), did not play a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday because of a non-COVID-19 related illness; he took part in practice Wednesday.
"'Buchy' feels good," Berube said. "I think he'll be close to being a player. 'Tommer,' will have to see tomorrow how he feels.
"[Buchnevich] came in today and he felt good and he went and practiced and he feels good after practice. It's all good stuff going in the right direction." -- Lou Korac

Montreal Canadiens

Jake Allen is expected to return for the Canadiens against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
The goalie has been out since Jan. 12 because of a lower-body injury and was expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.
"I never really had an injury necessarily," Allen said Wednesday. "I tried to tough it out (when injured against the Boston Bruins), maybe be a bit of a hero, but about 10 seconds later, I knew something wasn't right."
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said there is a "95 percent chance" Allen will start against the Stars (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Allen was 5-16-2 with a 3.15 goals-against average, .901 save percentage and two shutouts in 24 games.
"We had to do the 8-9 week rehab, which was long but it was necessary and I am feeling 100 percent now," Allen said.

Buffalo Sabres

Zemgus Girgensons will return for the Sabres at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
The forward has missed 18 games with a lower-body injury and missed five games with the injury from Jan. 15-22 before returning Jan. 25. He was out for the entire 2020-21 season following surgery for a hamstring injury.
"It definitely was mentally tough at the start (of the current injury) where I kept going back and forth with how long I would be out," Girgensons said Wednesday. "It brought back flashbacks from last season. But in the end, I knew I was coming back, and there was no doubt in my mind I would be back by the end of the season. So I was just looking forward to the day where I could get back on the ice."
Girgensons scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 34 games this season.
Colin Miller could play Thursday after missing 23 games with an upper-body injury. The defenseman scored two goals and had 10 assists in 32 games.
"I expect 'Millsy' (to play)," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "I'll have a conversation with him. As early as tomorrow would be a possibility, and we're shooting for tomorrow or the Calgary [Flames] game (Friday)." -- Heather Engel

Vancouver Canucks

Elias Pettersson could return for the Canucks against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
The forward missed a second game because of an upper-body injury when the Canucks defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-3 on Tuesday.
"He's day to day," Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said. "This is not a long-term thing with him, we'll be happy to get him back and hopefully Thursday he'll be able to play."
Pettersson was scratched for a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, the first game he missed this season. He missed the final 30 games last season with a wrist injury he admitted affected his performance early this season.
"I know he's had trouble in the past with a big-time injury but I don't think this is anything serious at all," Boudreau said.
Pettersson was third on the Canucks with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 59 games, including 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in his past 13.
"If he can (practice Wednesday), then the possibility of playing Thursday is great," Boudreau said. "If not, it's just day to day with him." -- Kevin Woodley