BOSTON -- It turns out that Sean Bergenheim didn't improve enough to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals after all.
Bergenheim skated Friday morning in full gear, and coach Guy Boucher said he had improved but was still doubtful for the deciding contest. He skated during the pregame warmup but was scratched.
The Finnish forward left Game 5 late in the first period with an undisclosed injury and didn't play in Game 6. Boucher said Thursday if the game had been that day Bergenheim wouldn't have been able to go.
Bergenheim is third in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 9 goals, trailing only teammate Martin St. Louis and Boston's David Krejci, who have 10.
"It would be great," Lightning center Steven Stamkos said Friday morning of a potential return for Bergenheim. "He's scored a lot of big goals. It was tough without last game, but we once again proved without a great player we can step up. We've done it all year."
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