The forward missed practice on Wednesday and was considered a game-time decision ahead of the Maple Leafs' 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
The forward missed practice on Wednesday and was considered a game-time decision ahead of the Maple Leafs' 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
SUNRISE, Fla — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi was demoted to the third line to begin the second period during the club's 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Although the forward finished the game playing primarily with forwards Max Domi and David Kampf, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that Bertuzzi is playing hurt.
"Bert’s playing less than 100 percent right now," Keefe said on his reasoning to move him down the lineup. "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."
Bertuzzi logged a season-low 13:53 as a result of the switch. The forward missed the team's practice on Wednesday after the team had the day off on Tuesday.
With the Maple Leafs in the midst of a five-game road trip, Keefe admitted that it might be a possibility that the 28-year-old may have to sit out a game as a result of what is an undisclosed ailment.
"It’s something he’s dealing with," Keefe said. "We don’t consider it too severe at this point. He’s trying to stay loose and make sure he can get ready for the next shift. That wasn’t a good sign for me in terms of the quality of the game and just really wanted to lighten his load."
Calle Jarnkrok moved up to the first line for the second and third periods in Bertuzzi's place.
Toronto signed Bertuzzi to a one-year, $5.5 million this summer and he was projected from the very start of the season to become the team's top first-line left-winger. But he has just one goal through four games as he continues to work on the chemistry with his new team.
"We’ve had our looks with Bert, it just hasn’t worked right now," Marner said after the game. "I’m sure it’s no panic mode on that at all. We know it will eventually."
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