By Mike McMahon
mmcmahon@eagletribune.com
October 21, 2008 01:21 am BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron can finally move forward. Just seven days before the one-year anniversary of what was a career-threatening injury, Bergeron made his return to the TD Banknorth Garden ice last night. It was the first time in a game that counted since being driven head first into the dasher by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones last Oct. 27. "It feels good to finally be able to put it behind me," said Bergeron. "I can move forward now. This was a big game for me, to be back in front of the fans. We had some exhibitions here, but there is nothing like the first regular season game. These fans have always been great to me, and they were again tonight. It just feels good because all of the firsts are over. The first game back is over, first game here is over. Now there is no more firsts and I can move forward." Bergeron took a game-high seven shots. "It's a big game for him," said head coach Claude Julien. "Being back in front of the home fans is big. I can't criticize his work ethic, that's been extremely good. He creates things and does everything we want in a hockey player. Right now, I think he is a little frustrated because he hasn't been finishing, but that's normal. He hasn't played in a year and it could take some time for that to come back. Once it does, we know we have a heck of a hockey player." Unlikely battle In the second period, finesse players Marc Savard and Sidney Crosby were wrestling in the corner. Usually the highly skilled have enforcers to protect them, but this time, Savard and Crosby took matters into their own hands. "Hey, Savvy is an intense guy," said Bergeron. "Obviously I've played with Savvy and I know Sid a little too, and they're both competitors." Both were assessed roughing minors. Bergeron and Crosby were linemates and roommates at the 2004 World Junior Championship for Team Canada. What about me? A funny moment before the start of the game; as the TD Banknorth Garden PA announcer was introducing the team one by one (in numerical order); someone forgot to add Mark Stuart's name to the list. So, Instead of reading "No. 45 Mark Stuart," the announcement went straight from Aaron Ward (No. 44) to David Krejci (No. 46). Stuart was left standing in the aisle looking puzzled until after all of the introductions were done, when he skated to the blue line and was met with some laughs from teammates Savard and Phil Kessel. Offense galore The Penguins and Bruins combined for 68 shots in what was a back and forth offensive chance-filled affair. But, Boston goaltender Tim Thomas (31 saves) and his counterpart Dany Sabourin (35 saves), each were spectacular. "They're a talented team," Thomas said. Late in the first period, Miroslav Satan rushed out of the box after his hooking penalty expired and trailed Evegeni Malkin, who backhanded a shot that Thomas stopped along the ice with his stick, but no one was there to tie up Satan, who one-timed the rebound over a diving Thomas. "It's frustrating because we played well, but we need to get back at it (tonight) against Buffalo. It's the nature of the game." Sabourin, who is the Pen's backup to regular starter Marc-Andre Fleury, played 14 games down Route 495 in Lowell (AHL) in 2004. Odds and ends Shawn Thornton and Eric Godard dropped gloves towards the end of the first period. Both were squaring off and did some grabbing before Thornton lost his balance and Godard fell on top of the B's forward. ... The Bruins power-play units have been on fire, scoring three goals in the last three games, and clicking at 25 percent efficiency. ... The B's are in the midst of four games in six nights. They'll take on the Buffalo Sabres tonight at HSBC Arena.
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