Blackhawks’ Tyler Bertuzzi ejected from game vs. Stars for elbowing

Chicago Blackhawks left winger Tyler Bertuzzi

Credit: Oct 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi has been ejected from Sunday’s game against the Dallas Stars for elbowing center Colin Blackwell.

Tyler Bertuzzi receives a five-minute major and game misconduct. pic.twitter.com/XlKrWlyHmd

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 30, 2024

The infraction occurred midway through the second period of the game when Blackwell was skating along the boards with the puck. Bertuzzi went to hit him off the puck, but elevated his body during the hit, connecting his elbow with the head of Blackwell.

Bertuzzi received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the play. The Stars scored once on that power play, with Jason Robertson giving Dallas the 2-1 lead just 12 seconds after the penalty began.

There’s currently no word about whether or not Bertuzzi will receive any supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety for the play.

Bertuzzi leaves the game with two giveaways and the 10 penalty minutes he received for the infraction in 9:06 of ice time, with the game tied 1-1 at the time of his departure.

With Bertuzzi out of the game, it seems that center Ryan Donato has replaced him on the Blackhawks’ top line with Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall. That trio has outscored their opposition 1-0 and has a 65.94% 5v5 expected goal share in 6:48 of ice time together this season.

Bertuzzi had a bit of a slow start to the season, but has picked up the pace a bit more recently. He has 11 goals and 7 assists for 18 points in 37 games.

Bertuzzi is in the first year of a four-year contract with a $5.5 million cap hit that he signed with the Blackhawks in the 2024 offseason.

Bertuzzi was a second-round pick for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Draft, making his NHL debut with the club during the 2016-17 season. He went on to play parts of seven seasons with the Wings before he was dealt to the Boston Bruins at the 2023 trade deadline. He then went to free agency the following summer and signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs before walking to free agency again the next year to sign his current deal with the Blackhawks.