Bunting was ejected in the second period of Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series after an illegal check to the head of Tampa’s Erik Cernak.
Bunting was ejected in the second period of Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series after an illegal check to the head of Tampa’s Erik Cernak.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be without forward Michael Bunting when the club hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday.
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The NHL’s Department of Player Safety tweeted early Wednesday morning that Bunting will have a hearing later in the day for an illegal check to the head/interference hit on Tampa defenseman Erik Cernak.
The Leafs were trailing the Lightning 4-2 in the second period when Bunting made contact with Cernak's head while in pursuit of the puck in Tampa's zone.
Although Bunting isn't making eye contact with Cernak, the Leafs forward was sent to the penalty box. Officials then reviewed the play and confirmed a major and match penalty to the player.
"In terms of the call, I don't have a lot of thoughts on that but Bunts, to me, is trying to win the line and set himself up to win a race for the puck," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of the play. "It got away from him and their guy wasn't expecting it. I'm sure Bunts is expecting a battle in that situation and didn't get one."
The Maple Leafs fell to the Lightning 7-3 in the opening game of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday. Cernak left the game following the hit. He was the second Tampa defenseman to leave the game after Victor Hedman departed in the second period as well.
Forward Michael Eyssimont also didn't finish the game after he was on the receiving end of a hit from Toronto's Jake McCabe.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper had no update on any of the three players after the game.
Bunting is known for trying to play on the edge but has recently battled with officials in recent days. It appeared as though he had a handle on it recently until the incident which took place on Tuesday.
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