Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable
NHL Department of Player Safety Explains 3-Game Suspension for Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting.
The NHLs Department of Player Safety suspended Bunting for three games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Defenseman Erik Cernak. The league said the head was the principal point of contact and that the hit was delivered to an unsuspecting player.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting will miss Games 2-4 of his team's first-round playoff series with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the NHL's Department of Player Safety handed out a three-game suspension for his hit on Erik Cernak on Tuesday.
With his team trailing 4-2 in the second period, Bunting made contact with Cernak's head, forcing the Tampa Bay defenseman to be removed from the game.
Bunting was assessed a five-minute major for an illegal check to the head. An ensuing review confirmed the initial infraction while also issuing the forward a match penalty.
[gallery ids="5070,5071,5072,5073"]
The league focused on two different infractions in relation to the hit when handing down the suspension to Bunting.
They focused on the head being the principal point of contact on the play.
"Bunting's upper arm makes forceful and direct contact with the head of Cernak and it's the head that absorbs nearly all of the check," the league said in an explainer video. "The head contact on this play is avoidable. Bunting unnecessarily extends his body upward into Cernak's head to deliver this check."
The league also pointed out that the play occurred away from the puck, making it a case of interference.
"Cernak is never in possession of the puck in this sequence, therefore should have no reason to expect to be checked, making him particularly vulnerable."
Tampa defeated Toronto 7-3 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series on Tuesday. After the game, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said he felt that Bunting was likely expecting a battle (with Cernak) and nobody was there. The league refuted that in their explanation.
"This is also not a case in which two players approaching a puck are mutually prepared for contact to occur as they battle for space The puck is some distance from both players when contact is initiated by Bunting."
This is Bunting's first suspension of any kind after 187 regular-season games and seven playoff games in his NHL career. The league took that into consideration when handing out the discipline. Cernak has been ruled out for Game 2 on Thursday, according to Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
Bunting be eligible to return to the lineup for Game 5 (if there is one) next week. Tampa leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.
Related