Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron skipping China trip to focus on rehab

Watch as Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron records a hat trick against the New York Islanders.

Patrice Bergeron underwent groin surgery in June and he is taking precautions to ensure he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.

The Boston Bruins star returned to the ice Friday and told reporters that he will skip his team’s pre-season games in China to focus on rehab instead.

The Bruins and Calgary Flames are set to compete in two pre-season games, one on Sept. 15 in Shenzhen and the other Sept. 19 in Beijing.

Bergeron set a new personal best for points per game in 2017-18 by registering 30 goals and 33 assists in the 64 games in which he played. He also finished third in Selke Trophy voting, the ninth consecutive season in which he’s finished top five in Selke votes.

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