Patrice Bergeron Watches Son’s Birth, Scores Goal in Same Day

Photo via AP

Fatherhood is off to a pretty good start for Patrice Bergeron.

The three-time Selke Award winner watched his son’s birth Wednesday afternoon and then played in the Bruins’ game Wednesday night despite working off of one hour of sleep. And what would you know, he was arguably the B’s best offensive player.

Patrice Bergeron will be playing tonight, per Cam Neely on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Bergy became a new father this morning, welcoming son Zack

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 21, 2015

Bergeron collected two points in the Bruins’ 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at the Garden, getting credited with an assist and scoring his league-leading fourth power-play goal of the season. He batted a loose puck out of the air and into the net at 17:36 in the first period.

Patrice Bergeron telling us he’s playing on an hour of sleep. Saving puck from goal for new son Zack.

— Dave Goucher (@DavidCGoucher) October 22, 2015

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Bergeron laced up the skates just hours after his son Zack entered the world. After all, this is a man who played through a Stanley Cup Final with a broken rib, torn cartilage and separated shoulder. A lack of sleep almost certainly wasn’t going to stop him.

But though the night started strong for Bergeron, it ended on a sour note, as the Bruins blew a two-goal lead in the third period to drop their third contest of the season. Flyers captain Claude Giroux launched the game-winner from the face-off circle off a wobbly saucer pass at 17:51 in OT. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask has now allowed 18 goals in four home games this season.

Any chance Zack Bergeron can try on a pair of skates and jump on the Bruins’ blue line? They need all of the help they can get at the moment.