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Michael Bunting Receives Match Penalty For High Hit On Lightning’s Erik Cernak



Watch as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting is ejected from Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning after delivering a check to the head on Erik Cernak.

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46 Comments

  1. No way this is a match penalty and Dumbasses hit on Pavelski was a 2 minute minor. The Dallas organization should demand the same suspension that bunting will get, and should demand the league take disciplinary action against the officials in their game last night. This hit was the furthest thing from a Match penalty that I've ever seen. What a disgrace these officials in the "best league in the world" are.

  2. Toronto fan here, but that is an easy one, and should be a suspension. Bunting springs upward, changes direction to make contact, I don't think first contact is with the head but the elbow definitely makes head contact. I suspect that the league would even seriously consider that premeditated and retaliatory after Cernak took a roughing penalty against Bunting earlier in the period.

    No idea what the league will do, I would guess that this is 3 games in the regular season and probably just 1 in the playoffs, but you never know what the DPS will do

  3. It's the playoffs. Can't call a penalty just bc a dude can't take a hit. They are battling for a puck.

  4. Given his history as a POS he should get three but since he plays for Toronto it will probably be one game. Bunting is a wannabe Marchand without the skill.

  5. There's 2 defenseman that need to ask themselves if their willing to sacrifice. TBjust flew into Toronto's zone unimpeded over and over and over and throwing the blade of your stick at the guy isn't good enough. If those 2 regs don't start forcing the issue at the blueline they need to be dropped to the 3rd pairing and split up. Maybe one press box next game. Sacrifice is essential. I could see the look on the coaches face. Stand that guy up at the blueline. I could see it in his face. Woll if you get the start young man you compete and don't give that net back. Here's the chance if you get it play like you can you help this team get to the next level. And if you see them standing around, you damn well scream at them to get their ass moving. You are better than that gentlemen, be better, be angry, play ugly hockey, and do what you need to do. That was a reg season game you just played in the playoffs. Jesus at least act like it matters.

  6. Keefe better get used to saying "Bye-Bye Bunting Bye-Bye". The refs warned him in the end of the regular season that if he takes his dirty style of play into the play-offs, he WILL be penalized! They weren't kidding and Bunting is to stupid to take the hint!! Now, cue all the "Make-me-Laugh" fans blaming the refs for their crappy team!!

  7. At least Kadri defended marner getting cross checked in the face and Marleau getting pushed into the stantion.. wtf was bunting doing???

  8. Inexplicably elbowing an opponent in the face away from the play? Leafs raising their leafing for the playoffs

  9. The number of people trying to say Cernak was playing it up is shameful but also ironic. He never back into the game so no he was not faking. Also bunting literally got a free powerplay earlier by skating all the way into him then dropping like a sack of bricks with the lightest contact.

  10. The whole thing is stupid. You hit a guy right in the head who doesn’t have the puck and isn’t even near the puck. It’s just a dumb play no matter how you look at it

  11. easiest call of all time, he knew what he was doing and should be suspended for a long, long time

  12. This league is so soft. Perry took out Tavares in the covid series and got nothing. Absolute joke.

  13. That looks like a suspension from the guy who gets punished more than his fair share. At least he injured somebody on the way out and the leafs now have a better chance without bunting.

  14. Wow … Bunting went airborne to make elbow contact with Cernak's head, resulting in Cernak having to leave the game.

    I don't know Bunting's suspension history, but I bet he gets four for this … which is about the remaining length of the Leafs' playoff season in 2023.

  15. Scott Stevens didn't even send people flying through the air like that. I'd call it a dive but it was more like a short flight.

  16. What a stupid penalty.. clearly not ready for playoffs. Control your emotions kid. So obviously intentional… bunting looks like he has the maturity of a 15 year old

  17. Absolutely stupid and reckless from Bunting. Did he really think he would get away with that in plain sight of the officials?

  18. Whatever you get millions on your contract so what you get hit in the head okay whatever if it ends your career well your better off financially then I’d say 90 percent of the population right now so yeah boo whoo 😅😂

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