The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi is finally starting to show up on the scoresheet. His recent performance has been impressive, with six goals scored over his past nine games. However, perhaps his best play won’t show up on the score sheet at all. This was his stunning baseball-like, swat-tip into the Flyers’ net. Unfortunately, it was ruled no-goal due to a Matthews’ glove pass earlier in the possession.
Speaking of Matthews, he had a note about his new first-line partner (with Mitch Marner missing). “He (Bertuzzi) was all over it tonight.” Matthews was clear in highlighting Bertuzzi’s impact on the ice.
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Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe Wanted to Give Bertuzzi Another Chance with Matthews
Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe had been considering giving the gritty left-winger another chance to see what he could do on Matthews’ top line for weeks. Sadly for Marner, his absence provided the perfect chance for the coaching staff to experiment.
“I don’t think Bert’s game was in a good space early in the season when it didn’t go well, and now it’s worth giving it another go here,” Keefe noted. “It’s just about continuing to do what he does well and not overthinking it.”
Keefe believes that Bertuzzi’s strengths align perfectly with what players who play alongside Matthews need to do to excel. These strengths include forechecking, making plays in tight spaces, creating turnovers, being effective around the net, and generating more space for the team.
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Imagine What Could Happen If Bertuzzi Begins to Come Through Regularly
Bertuzzi’s resurgence could prove vital for the Maple Leafs as they strive for postseason success. That would be especially true given his ability to complement Matthews’ playing style. Bertuzzi could potentially offer a significant boost to the team’s offensive firepower.
As the season has progressed, Bertuzzi’s impact has become increasingly apparent. There’s a chance he can be a difference-maker for the Maple Leafs during the playoffs. If he maintains this level of play, he could be a potential tipping in the team’s playoff aspirations. If so, his early-season struggles would be filed under “Who Cares?”
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