{"id":288730,"date":"2025-11-13T07:58:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T07:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/288730\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T07:58:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T07:58:14","slug":"blackhawks-tyler-bertuzzi-trying-to-maintain-consistent-production-under-jeff-blashill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/288730\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks’ Tyler Bertuzzi trying to maintain consistent production under Jeff Blashill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tyler Bertuzzi went to new Blackhawks<\/a> coach Jeff Blashill at the start of training camp and asked for his help.<\/p>\n

Bertuzzi knew as well as anyone how streaky he had been the last few years, and it reached an extreme last year. For example, he churned out 15 points (including nine goals) in 17 games between Dec. 19 and Jan. 26, then managed only six points (zero goals) over his next 18 games.<\/p>\n

This season, he hoped to smooth out his production over the entire season, and he hoped Blashill could help him.<\/p>\n

\u201c[He has had] some real ebbs and flows, where he gets real hot and then he goes \u2014 in his words to me \u2014 too long of stretches where he doesn\u2019t [score],\u201d Blashill said Sept. 19.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that we\u2019re just going to monitor as we go through the season. One of the assistants will have \u2018Bert\u2019 and make sure we\u2019re watching for, \u2018What are those reasons we\u2019re missing? Is he not getting to the net as much [as] he normally does? Are we not shooting the puck enough because he\u2019s at the net and we\u2019re not getting enough shots in there?\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

One month in, Bertuzzi has been quite productive under Blashill, although it\u2019s impossible to tell whether this is his new normal or simply another hot streak that might fade away soon.<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old forward entered Wednesday with 14 points in 15 games, having broken loose<\/a> for six goals in his last three games. His rekindled chemistry with Connor Bedard on the power play has earned him a promotion up to Bedard\u2019s line during five-on-five play, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll probably go to [Jeff] when I don\u2019t score for eight games or something,\u201d Bertuzzi said Tuesday. \u201cBut that\u2019s why I don\u2019t get too high or too low, because I know \u2014 at some point \u2014 everyone goes through a lull. [I\u2019ll] just stay with the program and keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back-door wall<\/p>\n

Bertuzzi\u2019s 28.1% shooting percentage certainly isn\u2019t sustainable, but it\u2019s also not as unsustainable for him as it would be for anyone else.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because the vast majority of his goals are tap-ins and deflections around the net that, if executed smoothly, can\u2019t possibly be saved. He shot 17.6% last season, way above the league average.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really learned over the years how to build a wall on that back post,\u201d Blashill said during the road trip. \u201cPeople shoot for it, and they go in. It\u2019s a great way to score.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where are they now?<\/p>\n

Among former Hawks, Philipp Kurashev has been an early-season standout for the Sharks, who \u2014 at 8-6-3 \u2014 have exceeded expectations just like the Hawks.<\/p>\n

Kurashev is averaging nearly 18 minutes per game and has tallied 10 points in 15 games, meaning he\u2019s already closing in on his total of 14 points from last season. It\u2019s nice to see him rejuvenating his career in a top-six role, even getting some time with Macklin Celebrini.<\/p>\n

Seth Jones\u2019 workload with the Panthers hasn\u2019t decreased at all from his Hawks tenure \u2014 he\u2019s averaging 23:31 of ice time per game \u2014 but he\u2019s still searching for his first goal of the season. The injury-riddled Panthers are off to a disappointing start at 8-7-1.<\/p>\n

Taylor Hall has been his usual self with the Hurricanes, recording eight points in 16 games in a secondary playmaker role.<\/p>\n

TJ Brodie, Craig Smith and Andreas Athanasiou are all out of the league now, even though none officially retired.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

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The Hawks let multiple leads slip away in a 4-3 overtime defeat Wednesday, but they also didn\u2019t play nearly well enough to deserve a victory.<\/p>\n

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\"Connor<\/p>\n

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Bedard has been one of the NHL\u2019s best forwards and Knight one of the best goalies. That\u2019s huge for the Hawks. But Blashill\u2019s coaching shouldn\u2019t be overlooked, either.<\/p>\n

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\"Louis<\/p>\n

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The towering defenseman feels like the \u201cJell-O is coming together\u201d inside of him as his confidence and skills grow.<\/p>\n

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