from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

With the light all but extinguished on this season, Tyler Bertuzzi's near-grasp of a milestone casts a glow towards the future.

He's within one goal of 30 entering the final week of the Detroit Red Wings' season, recording his 29th in an unlikely fashion in Sunday's 3-0 victory in New Jersey. He fired the puck from just outside the Devils' blue line, sending it into an empty net.

He has built his reputation by being around the net, absorbing physical punishment to score in tough areas.

"Tyler does a lot of things that you want to see in your players," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Tyler is a guy that is very willing to go to the net, is good around the net, has good hands in those areas. He’s proven he can score from the outside as well, but ultimately if you want to consistently in this league, you have to get to the net, you have to score those greasy, dirty goals."...

"Both those guys have had real good offensive years," Blashill said. "They went through a large stretch where they were pretty high on the plus-minus in comparison to the rest of our team. They went through a tough two-week stretch over the last little bit before Dylan had the surgery, but prior to that, they were plus players. Which means you’re going out and you’re winning your shifts. Plus-minus isn’t everything but it means, ultimately, that when you’re out there, you’ve won the shifts more than not."

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from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,