Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak.

The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are two days old, and the NHL's Department of Player Safety already has its hands full. 

Michael Bunting is on the receiving end of the league's disciplinary wing. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head and interference of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak during Game 1 of the two teams' first-round series on Tuesday night. 

Bunting was assessed a match penalty for the hit by the officials at the time. Cernak left the game and did not return. He did not practise the following day, with Lightning coach Jon Cooper listing him as out for Game 2. 

It seemed like only a matter of time before Bunting would land in hot water. One of the marquee storylines heading into the playoffs was Bunting's rocky relationship with officials. His penchant for drawing penalties that has now gone to the wayside ever since the general public became aware of it. 

In a massively important moment, Bunting played into the very pitfalls that were set in front of him – fairly or not. Doing so has now sidelined him for Games 2, 3 and 4 of the series.

A nightmare start to the playoffs in Toronto just got worse.