SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Patrice Bergeron had just finished a lengthy explanation of the late second-period sequence that led from one end of the rink to the other, from a backcheck breakup of a shorthanded bid by the Chicago Blackhawks to a game-tying power-play goal by Bergeron at the other end, when Tuukka Rask leaned down into his mic.
“Selke,” the Boston Bruins goaltender said. “Selke.”
It was a play that encapsulates the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given for the best defensive forward in the NHL, a play that encapsulates Bergeron himself, the top-line center for the Bruins who seems to somehow always be in the right place at the right time doing exactly the right thing. Bergeron, a finalist for seven consecutive seasons, has won a record-tying four Selkes, and could be well on his way to a fifth if he keeps playing like he did on Tuesday in the Bruins’ 4-2 win against the Blackhawks in the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium.
[WATCH: All Bruins vs. Blackhawks highlights | RELATED: Complete Winter Classic coverage]
“That could be a game-changer, right?” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It could be a two-goal swing. Maybe Tuukka makes the save anyway. Maybe we go down and score after that anyway. But it’s a big uplifting play for us, and it’s one of those things that it’s a teaching moment for our younger players, how not to quit on plays. That’s the leadership we rely on him for.”
The about-face came with the Bruins trailing 2-1. Boston was on the power play, courtesy of an Erik Gustafsson roughing penalty. But Bruins forward David Pastrnak gave up the puck just inside the blue line to Chicago center David Kampf, who took off with only ice (and Rask) ahead of him.
Video: BOS@CHI: Bergeron roofs backhand shot from slot
Bergeron, at that point, was halfway between the blue line and the top of the circle, well behind the play, and seemingly with no chance of catching Kampf before he got a shot off.
But that shot never happened.
Bergeron caught up with Kampf as he was coming down the slot, the pressure turning a sure breakaway chance into a missed opportunity, a takeaway at 18:26 of the period. Which would have been notable enough on its own.
But 22 seconds later, there again was Bergeron. The puck had popped out to him after a shot by Pastrnak was blocked by Brent Seabrook, the Blackhawks right-shot defenseman playing for the moment with a left-shot stick, courtesy of Brandon Saad, after Seabrook had lost his. Bergeron took note of the lost stick, and then took advantage of the bobbling, bouncing puck, completing the two-way play in exactly the way the Bruins needed. He skated into the slot, and lifted the puck with a backhand shot, putting it past Blackhawks goalie Cam Ward.
There was 1:12 left in the second period. The score was suddenly tied, 2-2.
“I think that’s the biggest reason why I nicknamed him ‘Selke’ because he does stuff like that and you don’t see very many guys do that,” forward Jake DeBrusk said. “He deserved it for sure. He worked so hard just to get the puck back, next thing you know he gets rewarded. That’s just how [Bergeron] is.”
He could see his opportunity coming, knew that once Kampf went to his backhand he would try to go back to his forehand. He was watching for that, waiting for that, ready to lift up his stick and do the damage he has done so many times before.
Even recently.
Cassidy recalled a similar play nine days ago, in a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 23.
“He did that in Carolina this year, same thing,” Cassidy said. “He just has it in him. He never quits. That’s why he’s Patrice Bergeron.”
Video: BOS@CHI: Bergeron on Winter Classic experience
It was, as Cassidy said, probably the moment from the game he would remember the most, “how that probably changed our fortunes.”
It was pure Bergeron. The hard work on the defensive end, the idea that — despite the odds — he could catch up to Kampf, catch up to the play, make a difference. The hard work on the offensive end, the opportunistic shot, the goal that turned the game, even if he wouldn’t get credit for the game winner, snagged by Sean Kuraly.
It’s what he does. It’s what he’s always done. It’s why he’s special.
“Do I expect him to make that particular [play]?” Cassidy said. “I expect him to make game changing plays. That’s just who he is.”
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