Bruins leading scorer Bergeron out at least 2 weeks due to thumb injury

Bruins’ Bergeron out at least 2 weeks

OTTAWA — The Boston Bruins say leading scorer Patrice Bergeron will be out a couple of weeks due to a thumb injury.

Bergeron, tops on the Bruins with 31 points, broke the tip of his right thumb in three places Monday night when he was hit by a slap shot by teammate Dennis Wideman in the second period of a 3-2 loss to the Rangers in New York.

Bergeron didn’t make the trip to Ottawa for the Bruins’ game Tuesday night. General manager Peter Chiarelli said Bergeron’s thumb wasn’t displaced and that the center won’t need surgery.

It is not yet known if the injury will prevent Bergeron from playing for Canada at next month’s Vancouver Olympics.

Bergeron will be outfitted with a splint and can work out with the team if he can tolerate the pain.

“There’s a chance he could play after two weeks,” Chiarelli said. “He could conceivably be practicing in a day, three days or five days.”

The Bruins feared on Monday that Bergeron, who has 11 goals and 20 assists in 41 games, would be sidelined much longer.

“Last night, the news was a little more dour and he was pretty bummed out,” Chiarelli said. “Today I talked to him and he was very, very happy. Everything seems to be on course.”

Bergeron was chosen for the Canadian Olympic team last week. Clubs have until the day before the tournament to replace injured players.

“I have talked to Steve Yzerman (the Olympic team’s executive director) to update him on the injury, and he was happy to hear the good news,” Chiarelli said. “So nothing has changed as far as the Olympic roster, according to Steve.”