TAMPA – The Bruins finally had to dip down into the AHL for some reinforcements ahead of a couple of big road games in Florida, and the million dollar question is what exactly prompted the need for another healthy body for the Black and Gold?

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The Bruins recalled center Colby Cave in an emergency basis on Monday ahead of Tuesday night’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in what should be a pivotal game for the Atlantic Division title. The 22-year-old Cave has 68 games played with Providence this season, and has recorded 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points with 25 penalty minutes this season for the P-Bruins in addition to his one-game appearance for Boston.

The real point of interest, however, is what’s behind Cave getting called up ahead of the two games against the Lightning and Florida. It could be that one of a number of different things potentially impacting the 12 forwards that suited up against the Flyers on Sunday, whether it’s Tommy Wingels that played sparingly in the second half of the game perhaps due to injury, or David Krejci as he’s clearly been playing with a lower body issue that’s caused him to miss some shifts in the last couple of Bruins games.

Or it might also have something to do with the health of Patrice Bergeron, who oddly wasn’t available to talk to reporters after Sunday’s overtime loss to the Flyers despite scoring the last-minute third period goal that sent things to the extra session. It’s unusual for Bergeron not to speak in that situation, and honestly aroused some suspicion as to whether it might be injury-related so closely to No. 37 returning to the lineup from a fractured right foot.

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Bergeron did have a fairly violent collision with David Pastrnak early in the game where he slammed his stick against the boards as he was skating back to the Boston bench, but he appeared healthy while playing 22:28 of ice time and scoring the clutch third period goal for Boston.

It might be that the Bruins wanted to get another center option for the lineup with Riley Nash sidelined after catching a puck in the side of the head that caused a wound needing 40 plus stitches to fix up in last weekend’s win over the Panthers. But there would have to be an injury or illness to one of the current 12 forwards in the Bruins lineup to make an emergency recall possible with the P-Bruins, so it will be interesting to what players are able to take the ice for Tuesday morning’s pregame skate in Tampa Bay.