Boucher: ‘Highly doubt' Bergeron will miss Game 2

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By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com

BOSTONGuy Boucher has done a lot of talking in the series against the Bruins, and theres only been one game played. So its no surprise that the verboseTampa Bay coachprobably dingeda few B'snerves with some of his post-practice comments Monday afternoon at TD Garden including ashow-stopping statement that he expects Patrice Bergeron to be therefor the opening faceoff" in Game 2 Tuesday night.Boucher said his team prepared for Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby -- who missed the last four months of the season after suffering a concussion in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day -- to play in each game they suited up against the Pens in the first round, and he was taking the same approach now.We prepared for Bergeron playing for the first game. We're preparing for him just like we did with Crosby, said Boucher. We told the players Sidney was going to play every game and that's the way we approach it. If they're not there . . . we take out something from our game plan. ""We know how important Bergeron is to the team. He's a great player. He's a great individual. That usually has a tendency to uplift your team in terms of confidence. We know the impact he's got on the faceoff, so obviously his team's going to start with the puck a lot more often. It changes a lot of things in terms of the way the game is going to develop. We're expecting him to be there for the opening faceoff. If he's not, which I highly doubt . . . I think he's going to be there."It just makes it way harder for the Lightning. So they said they're coming out with their 'A' game and they're coming out with Bergeron. I'm sure Tim Thomas is going to be at his best. Right now we're expecting Boston to come out flawless, so if we don't play a flawless game, forget it.Bergeron skated with his teammates during the special teams and line drill portions of practice, but left the ice when the B's engaged in battle drills and some down low cycling exercises. He's expected to be a game-time decision for theBruins based on how he feels Tuesday prior to Game 2.

Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs

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