Sheldon Keefe Reveals Why Tyler Bertuzzi Was Demoted

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Pat Quinn
October 20, 2023 (10:03)

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Tyler Bertuzzi missed Leafs' practice the day before the Toronto Maple Leafs played the Florida Panthers in a second round match up from the 2023 NHL Playoffs.

Maple Leafs versus Panthers

Bertuzzi logged a season-low 13:53 on Thursday, was minus one, recorded two hits, and one shot on goal. He was on line one with Matthews and Marner to start the game but by the second period he was playing on the third line with forwards Max Domi and David Kampf.

The Maple Leafs could not come back from a two goal deficit after the first period and lost the game 3-1. Toronto out shot Florida 30-24 in the game as Sergei Bobrovsky stole the show with a 0.967 save percentage.

Bertuzzi's season

Tyler Bertuzzi has had a tough start to the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the reason for that was revealed by Sheldon Keefe after the game.

"Bert's playing less than 100 percent right now. It's very clear from the pace of the game, the physicality and competitiveness of the game and the difficulty of the matchups. Whoever was going to play with Auston (Matthews and Mitch (Marner) needed a lot and I thought lightening his load was beneficial to him."

The Injury can explain why his production is so low. Currently in four games, Bertuzzi has just one goal. In his first two games he had nine shots, but since that game he has just one shot in two games. Something is currently ailing him and it may help him, and the Maple Leafs, if he was to miss a game or two to get better.

As Read On The Hockey News - Maple Leafs' Tyler Bertuzzi Playing 'Less Than 100 Percent Right Now'