Sheldon Keefe Sends a Clear Message and Benches Top Maple Leafs Forward in Yesterday Loss
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a game on Saturday night 5-3 to the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto probably should have won considering they were up 3-0, but in this newer NHL no lead is safe, especially if it is after the first period.
Keefe not happy with some Leaf players in the third
Head Coach Sheldon Keefe was not happy with the way the Leafs second line played tonight. That line being Tyler Bertuzzi-John Tavares-William Nylander.
«That line was not good for us. They did not have one good shift.»
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That is some pretty strong words, especially for the captain, but Bertuzzi felt most of the wrath.
Tyler Bertuzzi had only one shift in the third period for the Leafs tonight.
Three each for John Tavares and Matthew Knies.
Three each for John Tavares and Matthew Knies.
Somehow Matthew Knies was lumped with the second line in Keefe's talk but Nylander escaped the demotion as he played almost half the period. The benchings were reflective in the ice time too.
3rd period ice time tonight:
Mitch Marner: 9:49
William Nylander: 8:56
Auston Matthews: 7:49
Calle Järnkrok: 6:55
Max Domi: 4:41
David Kämpf: 4:18
Pontus Holmberg: 3:55
John Tavares: 3:18
Noah Gregor: 3:15
Bobby McMann: 2:23
Matthew Knies: 2:14
Tyler Bertuzzi: 1:21
Mitch Marner: 9:49
William Nylander: 8:56
Auston Matthews: 7:49
Calle Järnkrok: 6:55
Max Domi: 4:41
David Kämpf: 4:18
Pontus Holmberg: 3:55
John Tavares: 3:18
Noah Gregor: 3:15
Bobby McMann: 2:23
Matthew Knies: 2:14
Tyler Bertuzzi: 1:21
It is clear that the coach leaned on a few players he thought were going and sat others who were not.
Keefe and Bertuzzi not on the same page
Early in the season Bertuzzi battled injury and Keefe explained that as to why Bertuzzi had not caught up to the rest of the line up in decent production. However, Bertuzzi has now been benched a few times now and it may be a trend.
Bertuzzi has just 18 points in 40 games this season as he has been an incredible disappointment for the Leafs so far. There may be a trade on the horizon if the two continue to now be able to work together.
As Read On Hockey Feed - Tyler Bertuzzi benched in the third period by Sheldon Keefe
| POLL | ||
14 JANVIER | 497 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe Sends a Clear Message and Benches Top Maple Leafs Forward in Yesterday Loss Will Bertuzzi get traded this season? | ||
| Yes | 285 | 57.3 % |
| No | 212 | 42.7 % |
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