Bergeron returns to Bruins' lineup in Game 5 loss

The Boston Bruins got captain Patrice Bergeron back in the lineup Wednesday, but they squandered their first chance at eliminating the Florida Panthers after dropping Game 5 in overtime.

Bergeron chipped in with one goal, led all Bruins forwards with six shots, and won 69% of his faceoffs while seeing 19:03 of ice time in the 4-3 defeat. Trent Frederic came out of the lineup to accommodate his return.

The veteran missed the first four contests of the series. He exited during the Bruins' regular-season finale on April 13 against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury.

Boston head coach Jim Montgomery said Friday that he didn't regret putting the center in the lineup for game No. 82, noting the team wanted its roster regulars to use the last two regular-season contests to ramp up for the playoffs.

After practicing with his teammates Tuesday, Bergeron said his absence from the lineup was "frustrating."

"You want to be out there with the boys and battle and compete," he said. "You go through a full season, and you work hard to get to this point. ... Now we're here, and the boys have done a great job."

The Bruins have made the playoffs 15 times since Bergeron's debut season in 2003-04, totaling 182 postseason contests. The five-time Selke Trophy winner has missed only 14 of those games.

"It was definitely different," he said of watching the Bruins battle the Panthers from the sidelines. "It felt like it was a little bit more nerve-racking than when you're on the ice or on the bench, (where) you feel like you can actually do something about it.

"I don't know if helpless is the right word. ... I was cheering and screaming at the TV a few times."

Bergeron has amassed 50 goals and 78 assists in 168 playoff games.