Patrice Bergeron: Ultimate Warrior?

The more that starts to come out about what Boston Bruins center and alternate captain Patrice Bergeron battled with throughout the playoffs, and specifically the Stanley Cup Finals, the more you have to wonder: What am I complaining about? During Game 5 in Chicago, Bergeron was injured; injured enough that he did not play the rest of the game after going down the tunnel to the dressing room. It was later reported that he had left the United Center in an ambulance. I, like the rest of the Bruins fan base, began worrying. After the game, however, it was reported he had left the hospital and was on the team flight back to Boston, while coach Claude Julien was optimistic he would play in Game 6, a do-or-die scenario for the B's. Bergeron gave a valiant effort, throwing his weight around with reckless abandon. But he did not look like himself, registering no points and dipping below 50% on faceoff wins during the Bruins collapse that led to the Blackhawks 2nd Stanley Cup in 4 years. Today, as Bruins players clean out their lockers, Bergeron is still in the hospital under watch, the same place he has been since the conclusion of the clinching game. What's ailing Bergy? A broken rib, a separated shoulder (suffered DURING the game), torn cartilage and now, as heard on "Gresh & Zolak" on Boston's 98.5 The Sports Hub radio show, a small hole in his lung, presumably from the rib. Oh, he also froze his nerve so he could play through pain. No biggie. Just shutting down normal bodily functions to play hockey. Another day at the office for #37. Fred Toucher (@FredToucher) form 98.5 has been saying it all along: Bergeron's number will be in the Garden rafters someday. It's just a matter of when he decides to call it quits. Although that day probably won't come for a long time.