The Bruins are getting one of their missing stars back. Patrice Bergeron practiced in full on Wednesday and is set to return for Thursday's game against the Islanders.
Notably, Bergeron clarified to reporters that he did not have a concussion. Instead, it was a laceration to the head that forced him to miss the last three games. Bergeron suffered the injury last Tuesday when he got tangled up with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and fell awkwardly into the boards.
Bergeron returned to practice on Monday, but in a non-contact jersey. He did not travel with the team to start this road trip, but joined them on Wednesday and ditched the non-contact jersey.
Usual linemate Brad Marchand remains out while serving his six-game suspension. Marchand, who has already served three games, has his appeal hearing with the NHL in New York Wednesday afternoon.
Bergeron lined up between Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak at practice Wednesday, so that is expected to be the top line on Thursday. Erik Haula, who has been the regular center between those two wings since the start of January, dropped down to the third line with Jake DeBrusk and Nick Foligno.
Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith remained together as the de facto second line. That trio has scored in each of the last two games and earned praise from coach Bruce Cassidy, who called them the team's "best line" of late. Jack Studnicka would be the odd man out.
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