3 things we learned from Bergeron's season debut

Patrice Bergeron's season debut came not a day too soon for the Boston Bruins.

After beginning the season with a record of 2-3-0 without Bergeron in the lineup, the Bruins welcomed him back from an undisclosed lower-body injury for Thursday's game against the Vancouver Canucks

On a day it was announced goaltender Tuukka Rask will be sidelined with a concussion, this club needed a boost, and Bergeron brought just that in a 6-3 win.

Here are three things we learned from his season debut.

Sparking the offense

In just shy of 21 minutes of ice time, Bergeron recorded one goal and three assists with six shots on goal. The four-point performance was the fourth of his career and second of 2017, according to Hockey Reference.

Two points came on the power play while two came at even strength, and the Bruins certainly seemed energized by his presence on the ice.

Patrice Bergeron has 1 G, 3 A in his return to action tonight in win vs Van. Bruins have a different personality with #37 in the line-up.

- John Shannon (@JSportsnet) October 20, 2017

Locking down the defense

Bergeron won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward last season, an award he's taken home in three of the past four years. And as one might expect, his defensive acumen was on full display against the Canucks.

Bergeron was credited with a takeaway without once giving away the puck, and, according to hockeystats.ca, he recorded a Corsi For rating of 65.96 in all situations (61.54 at even strength), meaning he was on the ice for many more shot attempts by the Bruins than from the Canucks.

He was on the ice for a power-play goal scored by Thomas Vanek, but we'll give him a pass because Vanek always scores against the Bruins.

Boosting Bjork

In recent years, Bergeron has played a big part in helping David Pastrnak reach star status for the Bruins. And on Thursday, he similarly helped elevate the game of promising rookie forward Anders Bjork.

Bjork - who bumped Rask in practice to cause his concussion - was boosted by the best game of his young career, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Bergeron drew the primary assist on Bjork's first goal, and the two later teamed up to assist on a goal by Brad Marchand.

All in all, Bergeron's debut could not have gone any better, and the Bruins will need his A-game in order to challenge for a playoff spot once again this season.

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