In his first playoff appearance, Tyler Bertuzzi has taken his game to another level

At the trade deadline, the Bruins made multiple moves to improve their depth for a deep playoff run. That included acquiring Tyler Bertuzzi from the Red Wings. The former second-round pick made an immediate impact during the regular season and provided a spark to the offense. That has continued in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as Bertuzzi has played a vital role in the Bruins taking a 3-1 series lead over the Panthers.

Through the series' first four games, the twenty-eight-year-old has scored two goals and recorded four assists. Bertuzzi has been a weapon on the powerplay with three points and helped carry the load offensively with David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron battling injuries.

While Bertuzzi has been a points machine, he has not been afraid to put his body on the line. He has landed 11 hits and blocked six shots. Bertuzzi’s physical style of play has created problems for the Panthers, who are on the brink of elimination.

With the first week of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the books, Bertuzzi is second on the Bruins in points. His ability to win puck battles in the dirty areas, block shots, and create scoring chances for his teammates makes him a tough matchup. His play has backed up what Jim Montgomery told reporters on the day Boston traded for Bertuzzi.

“ We have a lot of guys who are really hard to play against," Montgomery told reporters. "Which makes it -- we're going to be a tough out in the playoffs because we have a lot of players who go to areas where you score goals in the playoffs."

Although this is Bertuzzi’s first NHL postseason appearance, he is no stranger to the playoff stage. The Canadian native was the MVP of the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs when Grand Rapids won an AHL championship. The playoffs have seemingly brought out the best in the veteran winger.

As the Bruins look to end their championship drought, Bertuzzi will be a crucial piece. He has shown that he is ready for the challenge and continued to become a fan favorite in Boston.