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About time, Tyler Bertuzzi.
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We might argue that the largest purpose within the Maple Leafs’ 9-2 crushing of the Anaheim Geese on Saturday was scored by Bertuzzi within the second interval.
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Along with his first purpose in 20 video games and seventh of the season, we will cease asking questions on his lack of manufacturing.
And Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe can cease speaking about the entire little issues Bertuzzi has been doing properly.
The longer Bertuzzi went with out scoring, the more serious it regarded for him, no matter anything he might need getting performed. Scoring probabilities alone usually are not sufficient for somebody being paid $5.5 million to place the puck within the internet.
Bertuzzi scored at 2:51 of the second on an influence play when he knocked an Auston Matthews go behind Geese goalie John Gibson.
“It felt good,” Bertuzzi mentioned. “I hit the submit earlier and it felt good to see it go in.”
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Bertuzzi, who had not scored since Dec. 27 in opposition to Ottawa, had three pictures on purpose and 9 makes an attempt.
“You’re simply thrilled for him,” Keefe mentioned. “The primary shift of the sport, I imagine, I can’t bear in mind who gave it him, anyone slipped him the puck on the entry and he ripped a one-timer from simply contained in the blue line.
“That confirmed that Bert was on tonight. He was feeling it. Simply the mindset he needed to shoot from that distance, I’ve not seen a lot of that from him and it practically went in.
“It regarded prefer it was going to be coming after which he hits the submit, and also you’re pondering, ‘OK, right here we go once more.’ Then he acquired himself to a extremely great spot and as a lot as Auston has been taking pictures the puck within the internet, I believed the go was world-class. It was a precedence for (Matthews) to provide him that one.”
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Stated Matthews: “Seeing him get that one feels good for everyone, however I’m positive it feels actually good for him. He has had greater than sufficient alternatives. Generally you get slightly snake-bitten. That one goes in and now you don’t look again.”
The take a look at now for Bertuzzi: Flip the purpose into one thing that resembles consistency.
DEADLINE THOUGHTS
Adam Henrique is a uncommon breed.
The Geese centre isn’t turning his again on hypothesis fuelled by the approaching Nationwide Hockey League commerce deadline, absolutely conscious that his identify is within the thick of hypothesis as March 8 approaches.
Not like others within the NHL who refuse to take a peek at social media or watch sports activities newscasts as commerce discuss intensifies, Henrique has a unique view.
“For essentially the most half, it’s an thrilling time of yr for the league,” Henrique mentioned. “Now, I simply occur to be in that point.
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“You see all the things. You guys (within the media) discuss so much about what might be. I’ve performed lengthy sufficient the place yearly you attempt to see who’s on the market and who’s going to go the place.
“We’re curious too as gamers about what’s going to occur, who’s going to make what strikes.
“You’ll like to be a fly on the wall with the GMs and listen to what they’re speaking about. I attempt to give attention to the sport. I feel that helps as a part of a distraction, if you’ll, on the in-between days once you see (the hypothesis).”
We all know it’s getting nearer to the deadline with the quantity of NHL scouts in attendance at every sport. A minimum of 15 groups have been on the press-box record on Saturday night time, and 5 of these groups — Vegas, Los Angeles, Edmonton, Dallas and Carolina — had two scouts with reserved seats at Scotiabank Enviornment.
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The 34-year-old Henrique is within the last season of a five-year contract that carries a median annual worth of $5.825 million. It’s not that he essentially needs to go away Anaheim, the place he has performed since 2017-18, when he was acquired from the New Jersey Devils. He is aware of, although, that he’s the sort of participant groups covet, and that his worth elevated with the sooner trades of centres Elias Lindholm (to Vancouver from Calgary) and Sean Monahan (to Winnipeg from Montreal).
If the Leafs take an extended take a look at including a centre for depth — although the primary purpose of basic supervisor Brad Treliving is (and must be) to amass a defenceman or two — a participant resembling Henrique, who has a 10-team no-trade record, may benefit Toronto. He has 35 factors in 53 video games and is revered throughout the NHL for his savvy and smarts.
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Treliving has a shallow pool of belongings, which might impede him from making a couple of commerce.
“It looks like there might be lots of touchdown spots,” Henrique mentioned when he was requested particularly in regards to the Leafs. “Persons are at all times saying ‘I hear this workforce is reaching out’ so it’s laborious to, until you’re the GM, actually know the way a lot reality is behind sure issues. I strive to not give attention to any sure workforce.
“Not understanding when one thing might occur might be essentially the most troublesome factor.”
Any manner it performs out, Geese GM Pat Verbeek’s telephone will probably be buzzing consistently within the coming weeks.
GAME ON
One of many outstanding components in Matthews’ six hat tips this season: Going into Saturday, no different NHL workforce had greater than 5 … Boo Radko Gudas all you need. If the Geese defenceman was with the Leafs, who wouldn’t need that nastiness on the Toronto blue line? … Sure, we all know his identify: It’s Lukas Dostal, and he allowed 4 targets on 18 pictures within the first interval earlier than he was pulled in favour of Gibson to start out the second. When contemplating the 55 saves Dostal made in a 2-1 time beyond regulation loss to the Leafs on Jan. 3, he was the identical on Saturday in identify solely … Matthews had 14 four-point video games in his NHL profession earlier than recording 5 factors for the primary time … The wave made its manner across the rink a number of instances within the third interval. Good instances … The Leafs scored 4 power-play targets in a sport for the primary time this season. They did it as soon as in 2022-23 … After the Leafs within the first interval misplaced defenceman William Lagesson to an upper-body harm, Mitch Marner had a number of shifts on defence as soon as the rating acquired out of hand. “He regarded proper at house again there,” Matthews mentioned with a chuckle. “A few of the performs he was making, among the passes … it was like he was taking part in there his complete life. He’s unbelievable. He does all of it for us. Perhaps subsequent sport he can placed on the goalie gear and be the backup for us, emergency goalie.” … The Leafs scored 9 targets in a house sport for the primary time since Dec. 16, 2006, after they beat the New York Rangers 9-2 … With the Leafs main 8-1 within the third interval, Keefe challenged for goalie interference after Geese ahead Ryan Strome acquired in Martin Jones’ manner, stopping the netminder from having an opportunity to make a save on Leo Carlsson. Whereas Keefe might have regarded the opposite manner with such a lopsided lead, we perceive his reasoning for difficult. “You don’t need to problem it in that sense (with such an enormous lead), however to me, that’s an apparent one,” Keefe mentioned. “I assume you’re simply defending the integrity of the sport, your workforce, the goaltender, on an apparent one like that as a lot as you don’t need to do it in that spot.”
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LOOSE LEAFS
The Leafs are holding teammate Mark Giordano of their ideas after the sudden passing of the veteran defenceman’s father, Paul. “The man has performed all the things he can for our workforce and he’s the spine of this workforce again there and we’re going to provide him his privateness,” Marner mentioned. “It’s heartbreaking to listen to the information.” … Marner on the PWHL sport between Toronto and Montreal on Friday at Scotiabank Enviornment, which drew a file 19,285 followers. “I sadly was unable to attend it, however watched all of it on TV and the group, the environment, the sport, all the things about it was superb. They deserve it. It’s cool to see the entire metropolis of Toronto actually embrace that.” … Joseph Blandisi and Dylan Gambrell scored within the Toronto Marlies’ 3-2 time beyond regulation loss at house in opposition to the Hershey Bears … In Owen Sound, Leafs prospect Easton Cowan scored on a penalty shot within the London Knights’ 5-2 win in opposition to the Assault, working his level streak to 23 video games.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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