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Boston Bruins

Tyler Bertuzzi is crazy in the best possible way for the Bruins

By Matt Dolloff

Tyler Bertuzzi, confirmed crazy person. And I mean that in the most complimentary, endearing way possible.

Bertuzzi is nutty in a Bruins sort of way. He looks like he’s going to fit right in with his new team, based on his performance in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday at TD Garden. The former Red Wing notched an assist on Charlie Coyle’s goal that opened the scoring in the first period, gaining the zone with a dump-in toward new linemate Trent Frederic then feeding the puck to Coyle from behind the net for the score.

He also generated a high-danger scoring chance of his own, and served two worthwhile penalty minutes after slashing Artemi Panarin’s stick out of his hands (Panarin: no points, minus-3). The Bruins had 58.3 percent of 5-on-5 shot attempts with Bertuzzi on the ice, in part because the young man is simply a pain in the ass to play against.

  • But just because Bertuzzi may seem like a wild man on the surface, doesn’t mean he’s Happy Gilmore out there. He knows his way around the ice, as evidenced by his 30 goals and 62 points on top of his strong agitating two-way game last season. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said after the game that he would continue to tinker with his lines and new players, but Bertuzzi certainly looked like a great fit for the third line with Coyle and Frederic.

    “He’s really smart with his game management, too, he didn’t force plays at all,” head coach Jim Montgomery said of Bertuzzi. “We put him in knowing he likes to forecheck and his linemates like to forecheck.”

    “I’ve played against him before, I know how he is, but playing with him, he always has his head up and knows where you are,” Coyle said of Bertuzzi, talking about his goal. “To see me through two guys from behind the net, that’s a tough pass, and he made it look pretty easy.”

  • Mar 4, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) and center Trent Frederic (11) react after a goal by center Charlie Coyle (13) (not pictured) during the first period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

    Mar 4, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) and center Trent Frederic (11) react after a goal by center Charlie Coyle (13) (not pictured) during the first period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

  • The biggest stir Bertuzzi made during the game, however, was because of his stick, specifically the lack of tape at the top of the shaft. Just about every hockey player ever has SOME sort of tape to help him grip the stick, but Bertuzzi apparently started going tape-less a little bit last season, and he’s doing it more regularly this year. He likes it, so, all good.

    How does it feel to him?

    “Amazing.”

    People may say he’s a

    waaaait a minute Bertuzzi goes no tape up top? my god he is a M E N A C E pic.twitter.com/W0YyAvCvW5

    — Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) March 4, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">menace for doing such a thing.

    “Ahh. That’s OK.”

  • Something tells me the Bruins faithful are going to love Bertuzzi. The scoring and the whimsical stick are fun, but he will especially endear himself to the fans once he starts getting under his opponents’ skin, the way Brad Marchand has always done it at an elite level.

    Saturday was certainly a good start for the Bruins’ newest menace.

  • Sports Hub Underground | Reacting to the Bertuzzi Trade
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  • Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

NEXT: Bruins Still Really Well-Stocked For The Future Beyond 2023

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