Two seasons ago, Patrice Bergeron suffered a concussion from the hands of then-Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones that ended his season. Two seasons ago in Game 3 of the Bruins' Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Montreal Canadiens, Marc Savard scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Bruins a little momentum in the series.
Fast forward two seasons later when Savard suffered a Grade 2 concussion from the hands of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke. Savard has not seen the ice since that hit on March 14.
Now fast forward one month later where the Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres are playing in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Savard makes an appearance during the morning skate and is feeling optimistic about his chances in regards to coming back to the ice for the playoffs.
Savard's appearance seemed to help Bergeron and the Bruins on Monday night as Bergy scored the game-winning goal at 12:57 of the third period to give the Bruins a 2-1 win in Game 3. The win gives the Bruins a 2-1 lead in their best-of-7 seven series with the Sabres.
"Savvy's presence is always good for us and he's a big part of our team," Bergeron said. "We're just happy to see him feeling a lot better — especially for his health, more than anything else."
It all started when Bergeron dumped the puck into the Sabres' end where 42-year-old Bruins forward Mark Recchi would chase the puck. Recchi would win the battle for the puck with Sabres forward Tim Kennedy as he threw his weight around and knocked Kennedy off the puck. From there Bergeron was in the slot and he fired the puck past Vezina Trophy finalist Ryan Miller for the game-winner.
"That was a veteran play, for sure," said Bergeron about Recchi's effort on his game-winner. "He went into the corner with one thing in mind and that was to win that battle and that's what he does well because he is such a warrior on the ice."
"As soon as I got the puck, I saw Bergy open in the slot and he is so good at finding that little area and it was great," added Recchi. "I think it snuck through his arm somehow and he has a great shot and we will take it."
The Sabres got off to a fast start again as Holliston, Mass., native and Boston University alum Mike Greer's goal at 6:57 of the opening period gave his team a 1-0 for the third straight game. And once again, going down 1-0 didn't seem to rattle the Bruins.
Bergeron's game-winner might not have been possible if it wasn't for the effort of defenseman Dennis Wideman, who jumped in on an odd-man rush and fired the puck past Miller for his first career playoff goal at 15:17 to tie the game at 1-1.
"They kind of threw the puck around Griersy [Mike Greer] and I saw his body and I was guessing at that point," said Miller when talking about Wideman's goal to tie the game. "Even if I did see it, it was probably one you have to be standing up and anticipating it. You just have to tip your hat and move forward."
From a storyline perspective — Bergeron's game-winner following Savard's appearance — the ending couldn't have been written any better.
And Bruins head coach Claude Julien couldn't have responded any better when asked about the ending to Monday's game.
"Well I guess you have time to think about that don't you?" the Bruins coach said jokingly. "I really didn't look at it that way, but it's a good point. He scored the winning goal, but all our other guys came up big tonight.
"We've had a lot of things that have happened to our hockey club all these years. Whether it's been Bergeron two years ago, to [Marco] Sturm's injury all of last year to Savvy this year, but we believe in team concept and everyone else picks that up and then we keep plugging away. It's fitting to see some of those guys step up for others, but I guess Bergy owes Savvy one so now they're even."
