Bruins' Backes will miss at least a couple games with cut to his knee

Boston Bruins forward David Backes will miss at least the next couple games after suffering a laceration to his right knee on Saturday, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said, according to Joe McDonald of bostonsportsjournal.com.

Backes suffered the cut to his knee in the first period of Saturday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning after Yanni Gourde's skate struck Backes during a battle in front of the Lightning net. The laceration required 18 stitches but was luckily not structural in damage.

Meanwhile, Sweeney also noted forward Patrice Bergeron - who has been out of the lineup since Feb. 25 with a fractured foot - could join the team during its four-game Western Conference road trip next week.