Report: Patrice Bergeron returns for Bruins in Game 3

For all the flack Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien has taken about his lineup management this postseason, here's where the Bruins are: Tied 1-1 in the Eastern Conference finals, with Tyler Seguin looking like Steve Yzerman, and with Patrice Bergeron apparently ready to give the team a jolt of energy with a return in Game 3.

So things have worked out OK for Mr. Julien, it appears.

Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston reports that Bergeron's back for Game 3, citing multiple sources. He's second on the team in playoff scoring with 12 points in 11 games. He's a plus-7 and was over 64 percent on faceoff wins when he suffered a mild concussion in Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers on a Claude Giroux hit.

Coach Claude Julien was asked about Bergeron on Thursday:

"He is closer.� He's feeling pretty good.� Again, not totally up to the coach to make the final decision.� A lot of other things have to happen. And, again, I can only give you the same answer I gave you the other day.� He's going to warm up because he's ready to go and we'll - I'm sure there's going to be some discussions on how we move forward today, and it just goes to show you that he's getting real closer."

As for what happens to the Boston lineup with both Bergeron and Seguin in it, McDonald believes Shawn Thornton could be the odd man out. From ESPN Boston:

If Julien keeps the Seguin-Chris Kelly-Michael Ryder line, and if Bergeron is back on his line with Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand, that means Rich Peverley could move to the team's fourth line with Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille.� Seguin and Ryder have played together at times this season and their synergy was evident in Game 2.

Indeed it was, to the tune of a combined four goals and three assists.

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