The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday, concluding a hearing, that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for his illegal check to the head and interference on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak.
The incident occurred around the 4:20 mark during the second period when Bunting threw a hit on Cernak with his elbow connecting to his head. Cernak went down immediately and needed help off the ice. Lighting head coach Jon Cooper confirmed to media on Wednesday that Cernak did not practice and will not be in for Game 2 against the Leafs. Bunting was assessed a five-minute major for the incident, thrusting the Lighting to a five-minute power play where they already led the game by a score of 4-2 prior to the illegal check to the head. Forwards Corey Perry and 50-goal scorer Brayden Point each capitalized on the ensuing power play, Point scoring his second goal of the night to give the Bolts a commanding 5-2 lead. The Lightning would go on to spoil the first game of the playoffs for the Leafs 7-3. The Lightning took a 1-0 series lead.
The 27-year-old winger registered 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 82 games this season. He was initially drafted in the fourth-round of the 2014 Draft by the Arizona Coyotes and following a two-year stint with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, he made his NHL debut In 2018-19. The Scarborough, Ontario product signed a two-year $1.9 million contract with the Leafs in 2021; the contract has an average annual value of $950,000. Bunting will miss the next three games of the Leafs’ playoffs series.
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