Bergeron Out for At Least a Month

The Boston Bruins announced they will be without first-line centre Patrice Bergeron for at least a month. Bergeron suffered a rib and sternoclavicular injury against the Bruins on November 16. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Bergeron’s injury obviously leaves a major hole atop the Bruins’ lineup. The 33-year-old plays nearly 19 minutes night and was well on his way to a career year, already racking up nine goals and 17 assists in 19 games. He scored 30 goals and added 33 assists last season when injuries limited him to just 64 games.

In the absence of Bergeron, head coach Bruce Cassidy has opted to separate first-line wingers David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand in an effort to balance out the lineup. David Krejci receives the biggest boost in fantasy value, jumping up to the top line to skate with Pastrnak. He should play big minutes at even strength as well as on the power-play so long as Bergeron is out.

Jake DeBrusk should also see an uptick in ice time as well as fantasy value. He loses Krejci but gains a point-per-game player in Marchand. DeBrusk and Krejci should be heavily-featured on the Bruins’ new-look power-play when they take on the Red Wings on Wednesday.