Bergeron out for Bruins with fractured right foot

BOSTON -- Patrice Bergeron, the top-line center for the Boston Bruins and a candidate for the 2018 Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player, is out indefinitely with a fractured right foot.

Bergeron, who was injured blocking a shot during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
It's a blow for a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations. Bergeron is a crucial piece for the Bruins, a player who excels in every situation, heading into the final six weeks of the regular season.
"He up for the Hart, the MVP of the League, so obviously it's going to hurt," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We've been through this a bit earlier in the year, where we've had to have different guys step up. We don't expect one person to replace Bergy. It'll be done by committee."
For now, Riley Nash, who Brad Marchand called a "mini-Bergy," will step into Bergeron's spot centering the No. 1 line with Marchand and David Pastrnak. The Bruins, who host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, FS-CR, NHL.TV), will use David Backes in Bergeron's place on the top power-play unit.
Tommy Wingels, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, will center the third line, the spot vacated by Nash.

After Bergeron injured his foot in Toronto, he had an X-ray taken that was negative. He believed it was simply a contusion and bad bone bruise and played Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. But it continued to bother him.
"Usually it goes away after a little bit, and during the game it was there the whole time," Bergeron said. "When I woke up Monday, I had a feeling. But you never want to think of the worst right away."
The Bruins medical staff decided to get a CT scan on Monday in Boston after speaking with Bergeron. That revealed the fracture.
"That guy would play with one foot," Marchand said. "He'll play through anything. His pain tolerance is so high. His will to compete and win is there. He wants to win so bad that he'll play through anything. I'm sure that if he was allowed to play, he would still play."
Bergeron said he'll try to be patient over the next two weeks, although that is not one of his strong suits. Addressing the media on a set of crutches and with his right foot in a boot, he said it would be difficult to step away from the team, particularly now.
"It's very disappointing, to say the least," Bergeron said. "It was tough news to hear last night. [It happened] on a clearing attempt from them and obviously it hit my ankle. Wasn't expecting it, and that's it."
Bergeron would not make any guarantees regarding a return timetable. He wants to make sure he's fully healthy, balancing the need to return as soon as possible with the need to not risk reinjury, especially in hopes of a lengthy playoffs run.
Marchand spoke for his teammates when he first heard the bad news.
"We were obviously praying that this wouldn't be the case," Marchand said. "It's frustrating and bad timing, but we have to rally and step up for him the way he's done for us for the past, over a decade now. It's tough to see, especially a guy like that, go through."

The Bruins (37-15-8), who have lost two straight, are in third place in the Atlantic Division two points behind the Maple Leafs. Boston does have five games in hand on Toronto, and three games in hand on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who lead the division.
The Bruins are seemingly locked into a spot in the top three in the division, with the Florida Panthers sitting 20 points behind. But they remain focused on moving up, getting home-ice advantage, setting themselves up as best they can heading into the playoffs. And that's where Bergeron's absence will hurt.
"When you miss a guy like that, you can't replace him," Marchand said. "He does so much for our team, obviously having another phenomenal year. So it's going to be tough to miss him for a bit, but we still have a great team. We've rallied all year, and that's what we have to do. We're in crunch time now."