Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak, the NHL's department of player safety announced Wednesday.
The 27-year-old met with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday following his ejection from Tuesday’s series-opening drubbing at the hands of the Lightning. Bunting, who will miss Game 2 in Toronto and Games 3 and 4 in Tampa Bay, was assessed a match penalty for making contact with Cernak’s head. Cernak laid down on the ice before leaving the game, and did not return.