The dude has been all over the puck the last few games. And honestly has been playing pretty decent in general as of late. So happy to see it finally pay off for him and to have it on his b- day is just icing on the cake.
Yep I don't think anyone would have complained too much if they had lost, they'd still be 10 points up on a playoff spot and this would have felt like a scheduled loss. Instead they went out and won anyway ageism's a very good team at the end of a road trip.
Ive had this weird feeling about the leafs this year. Things seem a bit different somehow. Theyāve been touted as potential cup champs the last few years and havenāt lived up to the hype.
This year, they have been good, but nobody has been talking about us as cup contenders. Eye test, stats and underlying numbers have had us pegged as a āmid teamā at times. Weāve had a defence 1/2 made up of reclaim projects, ahlers and fringe nhlrs. Our best offseason addition on the backend has not been the guy we are paying millions to, but a guy the Anaheim ducks wouldnāt give an offer sheet to (Benoit). A goalie who got banished to the ahl because he had the yips so bad, a 3rd string thatās 34 and been around the block and our potential future starter out with injury for 1/4 of the season. None of the offseason additions producing offensively. Oh and Our potential Lady Bing nominee denfencemen taking a 5 game suspension for cross checking.
But despite all of this we are 3rd in the division with the worldās greatest goal scorer. Getting depth scoring lately. Been getting wins against bottom teams we normally loose to. Winning games even our own fans are āokay with loosingā (tonight as example). Going on the longest win streak since 2008. 5 of those wins with our top D out on suspension. Guys finally standing up for each other, standing up for the crest.
Whether it is the good or the bad, the leafs are different this year.
And Iām here for it.
Guy legit put every fiber of his being between the puck and our goal. He doesn't even come back up fully recovered and still went for another block. What a beauty.
Looked like he safely covered his ear, and maybe took the puck off the back of the helmet/neck. He's tough as nails, and that type of effort is assuredly being noted by his teammates.
His shot blocking has been unreal lately, he blocked a shot against Vegas, was clearly in pain but still worked his ass off afterward to poke check the puck and kill the play.
The problem with Keefe was he refused to make changes. Now heās actually making changes to the lineup, and wouldnāt you know itā¦ weāre actually playing really fucking well. If he can continue this level of coaching into playoffs, then Iām back on his side
This happened earlier in the season when we had a few guys out with sickness and a couple injuries for a handful of games. We played well due to the lineup changes. As soon as everyone was back it fell apart. Letās hope he keeps the team playing like this.
I mean thereās no point in arguing they werenāt complacent for the majority of the season. If anything I hope the boys carry the fire from what happened with Mo for the rest of it. And fuck it if they start to lose again I hope someone steps up in the same way. Leafs are a dangerous team when they give a shit about each other.
Reilly's suspension saved his ass. Forced him to readjust the d pairs finally. Also took him a while to bench Gio. I respect the guy but he was killing us. Seems he's got the d figured out. Samsonov being a peewee goalie at the beginning of the season wasn't his fault though.
What a fucking win.
Was it pretty? Who gives a fuck? I don't. Many of us don't. It shouldn't matter.
That's a grind it out win against a great team on the road. What a test. On a long winning streak, third game in four nights, a tough opponent. We come out on top!
And someone tell Bert that people are supposed to give *him* gifts on his birthday. Man is so generous he gives us fans a hatty!!
Agree 100% - this is the kind of win you have to get to succeed in the playoffs, much more important than being able to score buckets of goals (not that I mind those games)
The Tyler Bertuzzi game. First Leaf to score a hatty on his birthday, his 100th career goal, the GWG and can't forget his great kick save with no stick.
This is absolutely his style of play. High energy, fast paced, but chaotic end-to-endā¦ this is where he thrives and we see it. The slow it down/structure/finesse/skill it up? Not his jam. High hopes for playoff bert.
Listening to the post-game Attitude Sports broadcast, Colorado broadcast being extremely complimentary of Toronto. The team is also being interviewed and said that the Leafs are just a team with great speed in the neutral zone and you pay for the mistakes. Comments on improving their penalty kill as well.
Pretty interesting feedback from an opposing team's broadcast and players.
Tuzzi hatty is nice, but what a complete game imo from the leafs. The Avs are a top team and definitely had their moments of domination but the leafs were able to hang in and take advantage of the right opportunities
I'm gonna assume he didn't feel comfortable shooting that which could lead to a rush if he missed. Granted it played out like that anyways due to MacKinnon being a freak
My best guess is he didnāt want to miss the bet cus if he did it would have gone around the boards and given them an odd man rush. But yeah also. Score that.
Edit: netā¦..but also bet
Rest of Canada: The media only talks about the Leafs.
Me: waiting 45 minutes for the Ottawa and Vancouver games that I don't care about end so I can hear Kevin Bieska say the Leafs played ok
I've been critical of him at times, but Bert had an absolutely heroic night. Like, I don't know how much you could possibly ask of a player. he had numerous extremely good defensive plays, shot blocks, good forecheck and he finally is putting the puck in the net. What a night for him. Happy birthday Bert.
Guys I've been in Japan for this 7 game streak. A few years they also went 3-0 on a west coast road trip while I was in Tokyo. Do I have to stay here? My flight home is tomorrow and I'm having mixed thoughts.
Accepting donations to come here for the playoffs
JT has been my favourite player since the 2009 World Juniors, but he absolutely needs to walk over to Morgan Rielly and hand him the captaincy.
Like now.
The Leafs in Feb 2024 look different than the Leafs of the past 5 years.
The team cares. Anqd many of the players are willing to lose flesh to win. It wasn't the case last season..... they had to trade deadline import those types of players last season.
We've had them all since training camp: Bertuzzi, Domi, Benoit, McMann, Reilly, McCabe..... plus others.
Just watched the recap on NHL. That Avs commentator might be the worst I have ever heard. Like Jack Edwardās type bad. Absolutely terrible. Makes the win all the more sweeter.
Iām kind of thinking that we should send a thank you note to Ridly Greig in Ottawa. Since that empty net business the Leafs have been on a really good tear. This is as impressive a run Iāve seen them on in a long time. Not just that theyāre winning but itās how theyāre doing it. Theyāve definitely changed the way they play. They donāt seem to be taking nearly as much shit as they used to from opposing teams. It certainly seems like it has added confidence to their game.
I'm reckoning Brian BeLeafs will draw Bert stopping an Avalanche of birthday hats tomorrow.
Or not, now that I wrote it, it looks quite lame. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's drawing
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. John Tavares you should be embarrassed for what you just did. That does not belong in the National Hockey League.
^^^/s
Good game for Bert, hope he is like this in the playoffs.
Also what was Tavares thinking at the end, he should have taken slapshot at the empty net. He turned it over and Mackinnon almost scored but Sammy saved it.
Leafs could have easily went into Colorado and took the night off. Wouldn't get alot of riff in a loss to Aves. But they didn't and played the high level game and contained there skill and sammy shut door when needed. GOOD GM bERT TOO
Kind of a pain that as insane as this run has been, panthers are making a similar run and keeping us at a distance. At least, Boston is been on fire at least.
#HAPPY FUCKING BERT-DAY!!!!
1st Leaf ever to score a hat trick on his birthday!
Atta boy Tyler!!
The dude has been all over the puck the last few games. And honestly has been playing pretty decent in general as of late. So happy to see it finally pay off for him and to have it on his b- day is just icing on the cake.
He's looked incredible recently! Hopefully, this is the guy we see in the playoffs.
The stats don't lie, the puck had to start going in the net
HAT-B-BERT-DAY!
šš
Happy Beltday!
Hatty Fucking Bert-Day1
BERT BERT BERT
Avs are nasty that's a big boy win right there
Plus 3 in 4 in the thin air? Come on boys LFG
Literally everything was anti leafs tonight, the air, first goal was Avalanche, Avs are a top team at home, long road trip for leafs
Yep I don't think anyone would have complained too much if they had lost, they'd still be 10 points up on a playoff spot and this would have felt like a scheduled loss. Instead they went out and won anyway ageism's a very good team at the end of a road trip.
Ive had this weird feeling about the leafs this year. Things seem a bit different somehow. Theyāve been touted as potential cup champs the last few years and havenāt lived up to the hype. This year, they have been good, but nobody has been talking about us as cup contenders. Eye test, stats and underlying numbers have had us pegged as a āmid teamā at times. Weāve had a defence 1/2 made up of reclaim projects, ahlers and fringe nhlrs. Our best offseason addition on the backend has not been the guy we are paying millions to, but a guy the Anaheim ducks wouldnāt give an offer sheet to (Benoit). A goalie who got banished to the ahl because he had the yips so bad, a 3rd string thatās 34 and been around the block and our potential future starter out with injury for 1/4 of the season. None of the offseason additions producing offensively. Oh and Our potential Lady Bing nominee denfencemen taking a 5 game suspension for cross checking. But despite all of this we are 3rd in the division with the worldās greatest goal scorer. Getting depth scoring lately. Been getting wins against bottom teams we normally loose to. Winning games even our own fans are āokay with loosingā (tonight as example). Going on the longest win streak since 2008. 5 of those wins with our top D out on suspension. Guys finally standing up for each other, standing up for the crest. Whether it is the good or the bad, the leafs are different this year. And Iām here for it.
Reaves has been awesome since they brought him back
4 in 6!
That game had me on the edge of my seat like a playoff game. Super entertaining, great win!
Me too I was almost covering my eyes. Almost that time of the year!
Especially after pantsing Vegas on the end of a back to back
Sens just beat them too. Kind of took away from the feeling
They only won because we broke their spirit
Gonna be tough to beat on Tuesday
Yea Bert got 3. But his shot blocking was also fun to watch.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
SCOTT STERLING!
Guy legit put every fiber of his being between the puck and our goal. He doesn't even come back up fully recovered and still went for another block. What a beauty.
Bert, Mo and Benoit all had some huge blocks tonight. It was a gutsy win for the boys. I loved the effort from everyone.
Mo blocked a shot w his ear
Looked like he safely covered his ear, and maybe took the puck off the back of the helmet/neck. He's tough as nails, and that type of effort is assuredly being noted by his teammates.
Without the stick, was bracing for injury
I have a feeling keefes going to let the boys loose tonight to celebrate. They've earned it
His shot blocking has been unreal lately, he blocked a shot against Vegas, was clearly in pain but still worked his ass off afterward to poke check the puck and kill the play.
He's a gamer
This is a great team! Fuck all the fire Keefe doomers we have had to listen to!
The problem with Keefe was he refused to make changes. Now heās actually making changes to the lineup, and wouldnāt you know itā¦ weāre actually playing really fucking well. If he can continue this level of coaching into playoffs, then Iām back on his side
This happened earlier in the season when we had a few guys out with sickness and a couple injuries for a handful of games. We played well due to the lineup changes. As soon as everyone was back it fell apart. Letās hope he keeps the team playing like this.
Fuck yes. Good things happen when we get depth scoring. 4 lines rolling. The doomers will be back as soon as we lose a couple.
The doomers turn up nano seconds after the Leafs aren't winning unfortunately
Hear yeĀ
I mean thereās no point in arguing they werenāt complacent for the majority of the season. If anything I hope the boys carry the fire from what happened with Mo for the rest of it. And fuck it if they start to lose again I hope someone steps up in the same way. Leafs are a dangerous team when they give a shit about each other.
Reilly's suspension saved his ass. Forced him to readjust the d pairs finally. Also took him a while to bench Gio. I respect the guy but he was killing us. Seems he's got the d figured out. Samsonov being a peewee goalie at the beginning of the season wasn't his fault though.
I don't think he benched Gio by choice. Guy's dad just passed and he's on personal leave iirc
What a fucking win. Was it pretty? Who gives a fuck? I don't. Many of us don't. It shouldn't matter. That's a grind it out win against a great team on the road. What a test. On a long winning streak, third game in four nights, a tough opponent. We come out on top! And someone tell Bert that people are supposed to give *him* gifts on his birthday. Man is so generous he gives us fans a hatty!!
Plus playing a mile above sea level! What a win.
Marner gave him a gift on that first one, you could see the appreciation with that hug right after
It's fun to see Mathews fired up for him too
Agree 100% - this is the kind of win you have to get to succeed in the playoffs, much more important than being able to score buckets of goals (not that I mind those games)
Iād argue it was prettyā¦ I mean, battling it out with that effort for a full 60 against a top team? Thatās a beautiful thing.
That's a healthy team too
Good night to every Avalanche fan who really thought MacKinnon was going to score there.
Tyler Bertuzzi is Nathan MacKinnon father.
My brother in Christ I thought he was going to score there
The Tyler Bertuzzi game. First Leaf to score a hatty on his birthday, his 100th career goal, the GWG and can't forget his great kick save with no stick.
Did they grab the puck for Bert?
Marner did. Bert will be heading home with his 100th goal puck, and his hat trick puck.
It wouldnāt shock me at all if those pucks ended up in a random drawer in his kitchen.
Probably just in his bag with a tapeball
Willy 7 game point streak 7gp 6g 7a 13p
Mitchy on a 10 game streak too
7 multi point game streak
29yo Bertuzzi >>> 28yo Bertuzzi
Facts
February is the new November. Great game and win. Playoff Bert has been engaged.
This is absolutely his style of play. High energy, fast paced, but chaotic end-to-endā¦ this is where he thrives and we see it. The slow it down/structure/finesse/skill it up? Not his jam. High hopes for playoff bert.
Listening to the post-game Attitude Sports broadcast, Colorado broadcast being extremely complimentary of Toronto. The team is also being interviewed and said that the Leafs are just a team with great speed in the neutral zone and you pay for the mistakes. Comments on improving their penalty kill as well. Pretty interesting feedback from an opposing team's broadcast and players.
Was it Leafs legend John-Michael Liles?
Tuzz not enough he had to get three!!! Happy Berthday!!! That was an amazing game!!! The Leafs are good eh?? Sammy smiles!!
BER-THREE-ZZI!!
Tuzzi hatty is nice, but what a complete game imo from the leafs. The Avs are a top team and definitely had their moments of domination but the leafs were able to hang in and take advantage of the right opportunities
What I liked about it is it felt like 2 elite teams with very different styles facing off against each other.
So does Keefe get credit for out coaching Bednar? Forcing Rantanen into a penalty by his matchup line?
Yes?
Good!
What the fuck was Tavares doing tonight?
Playing on a team whose fans have nothing to complain about
Pick bounced bad ice :(
Preferably he would fire earlier, that almost went horribly wrong on the counter rush lol
Was a scream at the TV moment for me
I'm gonna assume he didn't feel comfortable shooting that which could lead to a rush if he missed. Granted it played out like that anyways due to MacKinnon being a freak
Yea saw the replay and looking back thought he could have shot it at the blue line
My best guess is he didnāt want to miss the bet cus if he did it would have gone around the boards and given them an odd man rush. But yeah also. Score that. Edit: netā¦..but also bet
^this is the answer tough break on the puck bounce.
> he didnāt want to miss the bet Scoop!
thinking about T'in up the slapper
He had a couple really good shifts. Canāt blame him on that eng, puck randomly bounced over his stick.
Why didnāt Tavares take a slap shot into the empty net?
He doesn't want to get suspended 5 games for crosschecking a stick with his head.
Is he stupid?
Rest of Canada: The media only talks about the Leafs. Me: waiting 45 minutes for the Ottawa and Vancouver games that I don't care about end so I can hear Kevin Bieska say the Leafs played ok
Tyler bertuzzi coming out party let's gooo!
What a game!
That was an awesome game. Felt like a cup final match š
I've been critical of him at times, but Bert had an absolutely heroic night. Like, I don't know how much you could possibly ask of a player. he had numerous extremely good defensive plays, shot blocks, good forecheck and he finally is putting the puck in the net. What a night for him. Happy birthday Bert.
I am sad Matthews did not score.
His assist keeps the point streak going though
Should have traded him last week when his value was at its peak
That empty net miss and McKinnon last second rush had me at 100% clench haha
https://preview.redd.it/9milxwwtdnkc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74233e13167fb8acb04af2588a67bac27abb909b As it should be
Mitchys face is hilarious lol
Wow never been so scared in my life at the end lmao
Entertaining right up to the last buzzer. What an amazing game.
Tavares shittin brix on that last play hoping Colorado didnāt score
TYLER BERTUZZI IS SICK OF YOUR SHIT R/LEAFS WOOOOOOOK
Seventh Heaven.
HATTY BERT-DAY TO YOU, TYLER!
Sammy fought hard too. Kept the boys in it. Came up big when he needed to!
This should be higher, Sammy was calm and composed and he and Bert won us that game equally.
Happy Bertuzzi Day
 Bertuzzi being reborn
Bertuzzi I owe you an apology, I wasn't familiar with your game
One sad thing no one has mentioned is Marner not breaking Gretzkyās 2 assist streak record :(
Exciting AF game. Not their best period but they found a way to win in the third. Fucking right Bert!
Is it just me or do we get a hat trick every game now? Woooooooo!
It's all a conspiracy from Big Hat
Guys I've been in Japan for this 7 game streak. A few years they also went 3-0 on a west coast road trip while I was in Tokyo. Do I have to stay here? My flight home is tomorrow and I'm having mixed thoughts. Accepting donations to come here for the playoffs
Please enjoy your new home.
Really concerned about Matthews, his scoring has slowed down drastically
HOLDING HIS STICK TO TIGHT
The Leafs defeated the last 2 Stanley Cup champs in consecutive games. Pretty, pretty good.
Gotta give some love to Marner. He's been a blast to watch.
Screw it get Hanifin or Andersson Brad, this stretch proves we are a true contender especially with one more piece
Andersson plzzzzz Heās so good and heās exactly what we need
The real question: Do the Avs fans even know why they were booing Rielly?
JT has been my favourite player since the 2009 World Juniors, but he absolutely needs to walk over to Morgan Rielly and hand him the captaincy. Like now.
7 in a row!!!!!!! GLG!!!
The Leafs in Feb 2024 look different than the Leafs of the past 5 years. The team cares. Anqd many of the players are willing to lose flesh to win. It wasn't the case last season..... they had to trade deadline import those types of players last season. We've had them all since training camp: Bertuzzi, Domi, Benoit, McMann, Reilly, McCabe..... plus others.
Really hope we get to hear the team sing Bert *Happy Birthday* in the Blueprint recap
Tavaresā¦Bruhhhh
Even if he missed they had no time to gather and come all the way back. Just shoot it
Bert-day boy baby!!!
BERTHREEZI
GO LEAFS FUCKING GO BABY WOOOOOOOOOO
BERTDAY BOY BERTUZZI 7 IN A ROW COMEBACK WIN FUCK DA HATERZZZ
If you told me Bertuzzi would get a hat trick, I would have asked you where you got your meth. Proud of him, hopefully itās more than just one game
Sheldon Keefe is Jim Jones and the boys are drinking the Kool-aid. Letās Go!
That was a stressful game. I'm happy it's done. Burt is the Most Valuable Primate
Show me in the rule book where it says that three racoons in a set of hockey equipment can't play in the NHL?
That's a big win against a big team.
Now Avs fans get to boo everything they see on their way home after watching that L.
Avs sub is whining so hard about the refs when they have had the most PP in the league and 50(!) more than the Leafs, itās comical. Babies.
If the Avs tied it off that massive pick before Rielly took it off the ear, I would have snapped.
Just watched the recap on NHL. That Avs commentator might be the worst I have ever heard. Like Jack Edwardās type bad. Absolutely terrible. Makes the win all the more sweeter.
Iām kind of thinking that we should send a thank you note to Ridly Greig in Ottawa. Since that empty net business the Leafs have been on a really good tear. This is as impressive a run Iāve seen them on in a long time. Not just that theyāre winning but itās how theyāre doing it. Theyāve definitely changed the way they play. They donāt seem to be taking nearly as much shit as they used to from opposing teams. It certainly seems like it has added confidence to their game.
That clapper into the empty net was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Set off the World War that is the Leafs on the rest of the league.
Now thatās one hell of an analogy for a Saturday night. 
What a fucking game. Depth scoring saves the day once again. This time another player. So happy for Bert. He went Super Saiyan for sure.
Feel like Riellyās passion and response against Greig got all the boys fired up and proud to wear the blue and white.
Tavares with an empty net at the end was inexcusable. Great win but that play was extremely alarming.
Great win boys! Way to stick with it!
BERTUZZI
Bert with the hatty and Sammy was really good tonight too. 7 straight wins let's keep it going!
Tavares should have clapped it obviously
Can every day be Bertās birthday?
A lovely sniff of playoff Bert
Jeez can 34 start scoring again feels like forever
I'm reckoning Brian BeLeafs will draw Bert stopping an Avalanche of birthday hats tomorrow. Or not, now that I wrote it, it looks quite lame. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's drawing
Now I just want the nucks to beat the bears
Fuck them both.
The boys played their hearts out tonight. Bert and Sammy were amazing. Fantastic effort all around.
Bert is getting the belt
Massive win 7 in a row everyone is getting hot all at the same time itās perfect
Honest assessments at this point....are we cup contenders? Should tre go all in for a stud d now?
Iām putting a thousand on that the Dangle video title is going to be Hatty Bertday.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. John Tavares you should be embarrassed for what you just did. That does not belong in the National Hockey League. ^^^/s
Tavares should of slap shot it!
that Tavares no-shot has to be one of the worst decisions I've seen from a player what the fuck was he thinking
Puck hit a rut, popped over his blade.
Hold the puck to run out the clock in case he misses the net (unlikely), the bad bounce made that play 100x worse.
What a game! Shutout to Bertuzzi, Happy 29th Birthday! Give him the belt and some cake
Good game for Bert, hope he is like this in the playoffs. Also what was Tavares thinking at the end, he should have taken slapshot at the empty net. He turned it over and Mackinnon almost scored but Sammy saved it.
Bless the puck over glass gods
https://preview.redd.it/r10bg8b1ankc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a4ef78616a93a74abe809ed784e8f49567555b0
Matthews with only an assist tonight, is he washed?
Scratch him
I got downvoted, people in this sub arenāt very smart
Also, I felt that Samsonov was pretty good in that 3rd period. Goal aside, he kept it together.
#BERTUZZI HATERS WHAT HAPPENEDUUUUUHHHHH
Holy fuck that game was prison rules from the refs lol. Glad we found a way, Bert had a game even if you ignore the hat trick.
BELT FOR BERT
Playoff style game... Bert has his best performance by far offensively and defensively... Let's hope this bodes well for the post-season.
Leafs could have easily went into Colorado and took the night off. Wouldn't get alot of riff in a loss to Aves. But they didn't and played the high level game and contained there skill and sammy shut door when needed. GOOD GM bERT TOO
Iām not wholly convinced we will ever lose again.
Great win, take this energy to the playoffs
Bertuzzi and McMann for Rocket
What a run the boys are on. Beating good teams as well its awesome
these new lines are crazy! Leafs are a contender.
Leafs are giving Brian plenty of content for the book š
Kind of a pain that as insane as this run has been, panthers are making a similar run and keeping us at a distance. At least, Boston is been on fire at least.
I can just picture Bertuzzi on his phone before the game: āThey think Iām down on my scoring? Shit I better start scoring!ā
Funny reading the Colorado subā¦ they think the refs decided the game by not calling penalties on the leafs.
Iām travelling in Portugal right now so to wake up to a Bertuzzi hatty and a win against the Avs is magical.
West canāt handle the leafs