Undeterred by setback, Tyler Bertuzzi happy with performance in Griffins season debut

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins have had to overcome a lot since the beginning of the 2017-18 season.

They started the season without two of their top scorers from last year’s Calder Cup championship season in Evgeny Svechnikov and Tyler Bertuzzi.

Svechnikov returned to the lineup Oct. 20 and has scored one goal in his first seven games. At Van Andel Arena on Friday against the Chicago Wolves, Bertuzzi, the reigning Calder Cup playoff MVP, made his long-awaited season debut after returning from tendon inflammation in his wrist.

Just like Svechnikov, Bertuzzi registered just one shot on goal in a 2-0 loss. However, unlike Svechnikov, Bertuzzi said he was happy with his first game since September.

“I felt pretty good, actually,” the 22-year-old told Wings Nation. “Obviously, short shifts and just keep it simple. I was really happy with the way I played. I felt good, legs felt good, lungs felt good. Overall, it was good.”

Coach Todd Nelson slotted Bertuzzi on the second line with Eric Tangradi and Axel Holmstrom. He also received power-play time, but his five on five time was limited, especially in the second period, when the Griffins took three consecutive penalties, including a four-minute double minor for high-sticking.

Nelson said he was hoping to get Bertuzzi more minutes, but the number of penalties disrupted his ice time.

“I thought we played a good first period,” Nelson said. “I thought we controlled quite a bit of the play in the first. We were going, we were moving our feet. Then in the second, we got into penalty trouble. We took quite a few penalties in a row. When that happens, we had guys on the bench that don’t kill that were sitting there.”

Bertuzzi had 12 goals and 25 assists in 48 games last season, but he found the next gear in the Calder Cup playoffs, scoring nine goals and adding 10 assists in 19 games, shooting 23.7 percent.

He was fighting Luke Witkowski for a spot on the fourth line with the Detroit Red Wings when he was injured in the Red Wings’ first preseason game. Bertuzzi likely would have beaten Witkowski out for that spot, as the Red Wings start to instill some youth into their lineup. However, Bertuzzi said he isn’t deterred by the setback.

“I love playing in GR; we had a really good year last year,” he said. “A lot of the guys that are still here I’m really good friends with. I’m just going to take it day by day and what happens, happens. I’m excited to be here.”

The Red Wings’ second-round pick in 2013 didn’t show any hesitation out of the gate, playing the physical game he is known for with a couple of big hits.

“I tried to get involved early on,” he said. “Know what it feels like to get hit again. That felt good, we played really well tonight. (Jared Coreau) played unbelievably. Unlucky on that one goal, and that’s how close a game it was.”

Nelson said he expected Bertuzzi to play aggressively once the puck dropped.

“He dives right in right off the bat,” Nelson said. “You could see in the first period, he had a couple big hits and he was getting his nose dirty. Once again, in the second, the flow was all ruined, so these guys are sitting on the bench not getting time because they don’t kill penalties.”

Tangradi said he thought Bertuzzi played a solid first game and is looking forward to seeing him progress.

“It was his first game, and I just told him to keep it simple and I think he did that,” Tangradi said. “I think you’ll see him progress with his confidence as we go on, tracking the puck, taking it to the net. Today was definitely a good foundation for him.

“I think what made our team so effective down the stretch last year was we had physicality from all lines. I think this year it’s an area that we can improve. When you add (Bertuzzi), with the tenacity and the will, it gives everybody a little bit of a boost to play that way because that’s how you can be effective in this league. It’s not always pretty in his game, he does all the blue-collar stuff, and that’s when he’s playing his best.”

As for Nelson’s assessment of Bertuzzi, it was drastically different from Svechnikov, who was relegated to the fourth line Friday.

“I thought he was fine,” Nelson said of Bertuzzi. “He worked hard, he was strong on the walls — created some opportunities. I thought it was a good first game for him.”