Patrice Bergeron is back!!!

Now we're talking.

This is some serious stuff.

What a turn of events.

Very good news.

OK, we'll stop now.

But let's be real: Patrice Bergeron coming back is going to be quite the boost for the already first place Boston Bruins.

You know how he was not in the lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and didn't play in the game before that either? You know hoe he's dealing with an unspecified lower body injury? (Hockey loves the very vague injury reports). Well, as Bruce Cassidy said following that game, he expects Bergeron will be back in action for the Bruins on Thursday when they take on the Buffalo Sabres, aka Jack Eichel's team (literally the only thing that's relevant about them these days).

Bergeron is having one heck of a season. Some would say it is fan-freaking-tastic so far. We're talking like 19 points in 19 games level good: eight goals and 11 assists.

The Bruins lost a shootout without him to the Washington Capitals, a respectable hockey team, so one could argue that him being out may have cost them that game. It certainly didn't help their chances, at least.

But him being back, healthy and ready to go is what this team needs if they want to hang on to this divisional lead. Think about it: the move also improves their depth as a team because they have another qualified forward out there as opposed to some guy who belongs on the Providence team hiding out on the backline.

Oh yeah, and in case you are wondering, he started playing for the Bruins during the 2003-2004 NHL season. So he's been with the team since before the lockout. He's an artifact of the Mike Sullivan era. Think about that. Very impressive career he is having to this point.