Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Ponting will attend a hearing with the NHL’s Player Safety Department on Wednesday related to a hard hit he hit on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Eric Cernak during the second period of Tuesday’s playoff game at Scotiabank Arena.
Bunting was assessed a penalty after he shot his shoulder into Cernak’s face off the puck in Lightning territory. The incident occurred at the 15:40 mark of the second period of the Maple Leafs’ 7-3 loss to the Lightning.
Brayden Point and Corey Perry scored during Bunting’s penalty time to give the Lightning a 6-2 lead over the Maple Leafs heading into the second period of Game 1. Kali Garnekreuk and Ross Colton then exchanged goals in the third period as the Lightning held on to take the lead from 1-0.
Bunting has never before been suspended in his 187-game NHL career, despite once being fined $2,000 for decorating during the 2021–22 season.
Eric Cernak suffers a blow to the blind side with his shoulder in the head and feels very uncomfortable …@tweet | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/UwfEbmxsWu
– Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (BallySportsFL) April 19, 2023
Ponting, 27, clocked 8:32 of ice time and scored no points before being ejected in Game 1. He compiled 23 goals and 49 points in 82 games with the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 regular season.
The Arizona Coyotes originally selected Pennants in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. The troublesome winger made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in 2018-19, appearing in 26 total games with the club over parts of two seasons before signing a two-year contract. Two years with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
Bunting is set to become UFA again in July and will likely receive a significant raise over the NHL’s current $950,000 cap. Scarborough, Ont. Product scored 57 goals and 126 points in 187 career games with the Coyotes and Maple Leafs; He has added one goal and three points in seven playoff games.
The Maple Leafs and Lightning will return to action in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto at 7:00 PM ET Thursday night.