Christmas came early for Patrice Bergeron.
The Bruins forward scored twice, including his 300th career goal, in his first game back from rib and sternoclavicular injuries that sidelined him for 16 games.
Bergeron opened up the scoring late in the first period. While skating into the slot all alone, he received a pass from defenseman Charlie McAvoy, spun and scored past Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne and defenseman Roman Josi.
The 33-year-old center scored his second of the day, and his 300th career goal, on a Bruins power play in the opening minutes of the third period. Back with his linemates of Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, Bergeron buried the puck off a scramble in front of the net to give Boston a 2-1 lead.
The two goals weren't Bergeron's only points of the day. He assisted on a power-play goal by Marchand, that was the eventual game-winner, and Pastrnak's even-strength insurance goal less than three minutes later. Boston defeated the Predators 5-2.
Saturday's performance gives the Quebec native 11 goals and 30 points in 20 games season.
Averaging more than a point per game, Bergeron's return is a huge pickup for a Boston team that has suffered from the injury bug over the last few weeks. McAvoy returned from a concussion on Dec. 8 after missing more than a month. Captain Zdeno Chara, who has been out since Nov. 14 with an MCL injury, returned to practice on Wednesday as a limited participant.