Injuries to Toews, Bergeron put focus on depth as Blackhawks and Bruins prepare for Game 6

BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron joined his Bruins teammates for a postgame dinner and was with them when they flew back to Boston to prepare for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

When they arrived at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon, he got off the bus, walked to a car without crutches or assistance and was driven off.

"He's good. He came back with us and everything so hopefully he can play," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said Sunday, a day before playing a game Boston needs to win to extend the NHL championship series to Game 7.

"He looked really good today. He had a nice suit on, very dashing," Marchand said with a laugh. "Obviously, he's a big part of the team and hopefully he can play."

As the Cup final approaches a sixth and potential clinching game Monday night, the attention shifted from the players on the ice to the ones who might not make it there, including two of the top forwards and biggest stars in the series.

Neither Bergeron nor Chicago's Jonathan Toews finished Game 5 on Saturday night, and while their coaches expressed optimism that they would be able to play in Game 6, it was shrouded in the typical secrecy surrounding NHL injuries.

"He's day-to-day," Bruins coach Claude Julien said, declining to even give the usual upper body or lower body description of the injury. "Day-to-day is really good news to me, anyways. Should be to you, too."

Toews, who won the Selke Award as the NHL's top defensive forward — Bergeron was a finalist — missed the entire third period after a shot to the head from Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

"They're both great players," Chicago winger Patrick Sharp said. "I think any coach in the league, any player in the league would like to have those guys on their team. ... I can't speak for what Boston is dealing with, with Bergeron. I know I don't need to say much about Jonathan. I think everyone knows what we think of him in our locker room. Hopefully we can have him back for (Monday)."

Bergeron was taken from the United Center to a Chicago hospital in an ambulance for observation. He was released later Saturday night and rejoined his teammates for a team meal.

"He was crushing some food," Marchand said.

He did not speak to reporters on Sunday. Asked to elaborate on the injury, Julien said, "Body injury."

"I think they said it was clean, wasn't it? Then I agree with them," Julien said. "I'm not going to hide from that. If it wasn't a clean hit — I've been a guy that supported those kind of things that we need to get out of the game. But it was a clean hit."

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville alluded to the contact with the head but then said, "I'm not going to go there."

Toews was tied with Patrick Kane for the Blackhawks' team lead with 23 goals during the regular season. Since being reunited with Kane on Chicago's top line in Game 4, Chicago has rallied to take the lead in the best-of-seven series. Before he was knocked out of Game 5, Toews assisted on both of Kane's goals.

"He's our leader," Chicago defenseman Johnny Oduya said. "You know, he's one of those guys, and when he's full-speed he gives everything he's got every game. That's something that is tough to replace."

Quenneville said Toews was doing much better and the team is optimistic he will be able to play in Game 6.

With or without Toews and Bergeron, the Blackhawks have a chance to clinch their second Stanley Cup title in four seasons on Monday night in Boston. If they lose, the series returns to Chicago for a decisive seventh game Wednesday.