Defending Todd Bertuzzi

Every sport has an athlete that is surrounded by a cloud of controversy.

Whether it is something they have done on or off the field of play, their controversial career has managed to overshadow the talents the athlete possess.

That is the case of Detroit Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi.

Regarded as one of the best power forwards in the NHL ten years ago Bertuzzi is more known for his assault on Avalanche forward Steve Moore which ended his NHL career.

Because of that hit, Bertuzzi has been vilified in NHL arenas during the later part of his career.

However after watching Detroit's win over Nashville last night I'm going to do something that a lot of hockey fans haven't done.

I'm going to give credit to Bertuzzi for what he did last night.

Game one of the series ended on Wednesday with Predators defenseman Shea Weber slamming Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg's head face first into the glass.

What should have been at least a one game suspension turned out to be a fine of $2,500 which is the maximum you can fine a player under the CBA.

With many feeling Weber got off easily we waited to see if he was going to have to answer for what he did to Zetterberg.

Ninety seconds into the game we got our answer as Bertuzzi dropped the gloves and fought Weber.

While the scrap turned out to be nothing more than your standard hockey fight it did give Detroit a spark that they didn't have in game one and it told Nashville that the Red Wings will not be pushed around in this series.

Detroit used that emotion to score two goals in the 1st period en route to a 3-2 win, tying the series at 1-1.

Coach Mike Babcock praised Bertuzzi by saying "I think he had to do the right thing and he did. I thought it was important for our team that that happened. I kind of expected that would happened and it did. Good for him."

As for Bertuzzi a lot of hockey fans feel he should not be allowed to play since he ended the career of Steve Moore. I understand how they feel and I won't say they are wrong.

But the NHL feels that his suspension for the rest of the 2004 season was punishment enough and he was cleared to resume play after the lockout was over. In my mind once the NHL cleared him that was the end of that and we move forward.

The goal each year is to win the Stanley Cup. If you can add a player to your roster that can make your team better you would be doing yourself a disservice not to look into it.

For all the negative things people have said about Bertuzzi one thing he has proven in his career is that he is loyal to his teammates and he is willing to stand up and battle for them.

As a hockey fan that's all you can ask of a player.