Following a controversial takedown of Timothy Liljegren by Bruins captain Brad Marchand, expectations were high for the Maple Leafs to respond and stand up for their fallen teammate. Surprisingly, no one, not even the typically physical Ryan Reaves, stepped in.
Instead, what unfolded was a scene of players on the Leafs' bench taunting Marchand without any on-ice retaliation. Notably, the focus of this interaction seemed to center around one player.
In the video footage, Tyler Bertuzzi, a recent addition to the Leafs, was seen wearing a smile as Marchand confidently glided past the bench, knowing that no retribution was imminent. This visual has drawn sharp criticism from the Leafs fan base.
While Bertuzzi remains unruffled by the fan response, the pressure is mounting as he has managed just three points in the team's initial ten games. Leafs fans are hopeful that he will elevate his performance on the ice and give them less reason to voice their concerns.