Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended for three games for an illegal header check and a tackle on Tampa Bay Lightning defender Eric Cernak, the NHL’s Player Safety Administration announced Wednesday afternoon.
Bunting was assessed a penalty on play, which occurred at 15:40 of the second period of Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Tampa Bay won the game 7-3 to advance 1-0 into the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
In an announcement made available to the media Wednesday, Lightning head coach John Cooper announced that Cernak will not play in Game 2 of the series. This is Bunting’s first NHL suspension, though he was previously fined $2,000 for garnishing during the 2021–22 season.
The Maple Leafs and Lightning are scheduled to play Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto at 7:00 PM ET on Thursday.
Toronto’s Michael Bunting is suspended for three games in the Playoffs for an illegal header and tackle against Tampa Bay’s Eric Ciernak. https://t.co/cEqbrMfeIt
– NHL Player Safety (NHLPlayerSafety) April 19, 2023
“This is an illegal header check delivered to a player who has no reason to expect any contact, let alone contact with enough force to cause an injury,” NHL chief player safety George Barros explained in the video explaining Bunting’s comment.
The Maple Leafs signed Bunting to a two-year deal as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. The Scarborough, Ont. Product scored 46 goals and 112 points in 161 games over two regular seasons with the Maple Leafs and added three points (one goal, two assists) in seven playoff contests.
The Pennants are eligible to return to play as soon as Game 5 of the Leafs/Lightning series, which, if necessary, will take place at Scotiabank Arena on April 27. It seems Matthew Kniss will step into the squad in place of Ponting for Thursday’s second game.
The Maple Leafs and Lightning previously met in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, with the Lightning winning Game 7 by a score of 2-0 to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.