After the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals, coach Sheldon Keefe addressed the unexpected absence of Tyler Bertuzzi during the game's initial ten minutes.
Contrary to speculation, Bertuzzi's delay was not due to any injury but rather an undisclosed illness that had been plaguing him during warmups.
Keefe says Bertuzzi was doubtful right through warmup with an undisclosed illness and that's why he sat almost 10 minutes. The only other available player was Brodie and the coach had already decided the defenseman was getting a «mental rest".
Despite his initial setback, Bertuzzi managed to contribute significantly, tallying a goal with over 14 minutes of ice time by the game's conclusion, showcasing his resilience on the ice.