Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron leaves Game 5 of Stanley Cup final with injury

CHICAGO – Patrice Bergeron left Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final with an injury, another major loss for the Boston Bruins.

Bergeron took just two shifts in the second period and did not look comfortable on the ice or on the bench. His final shift was 16 seconds, as he skated off not long after setting up Jaromir Jagr for a shot.

Bergeron appeared to be in pain as he was bending over on the bench during the second period.

He was not on the bench for the start of the third period, and his absence forced coach Claude Julien to jumble his lines. It helped that rookie Carl Soderberg, who made his playoff debut Saturday night, can play centre.

Bergeron has been Boston’s most consistent forward in the Cup final against the Chicago Blackhawks, especially on faceoffs and defensively. He also recorded nine goals and six assists in his first 20 playoff games.

Bergeron played only 6:06 before leaving the game.