Sheldon Keefe has special shoutout for Tyler Bertuzzi

The Toronto Maple Leafs got back into the swing of things on the road last night in the Lone Star State, defeating the Dallas Stars by a 4-1 final score thanks to 31 saves from goaltender Joseph Woll, a goal and an assist from veteran blue liner Morgan Rielly, and a goal from scrappy forward Tyler Bertuzzi. 

Speaking of Bertuzzi, he made the decision to join the Leafs this summer, accepting a one-year "prove it" style deal despite talk that he was looking for a long-term contract. He certainly showed what he can do on the big stage this past spring after his acquisition by the Boston Bruins, as he was one of their most valuable forwards during their shocking seven game loss to the Florida Panthers in Round 1. 

And after last night's game, head coach Sheldon Keefe issued a special shoutout to Bertuzzi, saying that it was his best game to date with Toronto. 

"I thought it was his best game," Keefe said. "I did. It has been coming. I have been looking at his game really closely. There are some things that he has been doing that haven’t gotten a lot of attention. They hadn’t really stood out is more what I am saying.

Looking really closely at his game — I went through and watched every single time he touched the puck in the six games he’s played — he has done some very subtle things of keeping plays alive and moving the puck to his linemates. It hasn’t necessarily been rewarded with points, but I think he has been coming.

I thought his skating today — moving his feet and staying involved in the play — was probably the most consistent it has been throughout a game. It was good to see him get rewarded with a power-play goal."

Bertuzzi and the Leafs are now moving on to try to make it another positive night when they take on former Leafs forward Ryan O'Reilly and the Nashville Predators on the road this Saturday night.

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