Bergeron Back for Bruins - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Nearly three months ago, Boston GM Peter Chiarelli told the media that center Patrice Bergeron's recovery from a Grade 3 concussion had regressed to the point where it was better for him to chill out in a tropical locale than to try and come back this season. But as the postseason grew closer, the outlook for Bergeron grew sunnier: He would be shut down for the regular season, and re-evaluated for the Stanley Cup Playoffs should the Bruins make the cut. Boston opens the one-vs.-eight series in Montreal on Thursday night. Bergeron won't be on the ice then, but Fluto Shinzawa of The Boston Globe reports that he could return as early as Game 2:

Patrice Bergeron was cleared for full-contact practice this morning, took part in battle drills, and is back on the Ristuccia Arena ice for a solo session with assistant Doug Houda. "I'll talk to the guys," said Bergeron. "I'll tell them the red jersey is over now. Obviously Montreal's not going to give me any favors."

Bergeron ruled himself out of Game 1 on Thursday. Bergeron will practice the next two days at Ristuccia and travel to Montreal. Neither he nor the Bruins have committed to his Game 2 availability on Saturday. Bergeron would need to be cleared by his doctors one final time before he can appear in a game. The Bruins will evaluate his progress daily to determine whether he's strong enough for game action.

With Marc Savard slowed by a bad back and Glen Metropolit nursing a bum wheel, the return of Bergeron bolsters the Bruins at a position where they could hold an advantage over the Habs on paper. It's also good news for Randy Jones, the Flyers defenseman whose hit knocked out Bergeron back in Oct. 2007. Let it never be said that Jones ended Bergeron's season -- he merely ended his regular season.