Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting will have a hearing on Wednesday for his illegal check to the head on Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak, the NHL department of player safety announced.
The incident occurred with 4:20 remaining in the second period of Tuesday night’s Game 1 of the first-round playoff series when Bunting clipped the unsuspecting Cernak in the head with his elbow in front of the Tampa Bay net.
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Cernak, who did not have the puck, fell backwards to the ice and needed help getting to the locker room. He did not return.
Bunting received a match penalty for his actions, giving the Lightning a five-minute power play.
Tampa Bay led Toronto 4-2 at the time of the incident and went on to score two goals on the ensuing power play. The Lightning ultimately won the game 7-3.
Bunting had 23 goals and 26 assists in 82 games for Toronto this season.
Cernak was fourth in ice time among Lightning defenceman this season, averaging 19:14 a game.
The Lightning were also without top defenceman Victor Hedman for most of Game 1. The 32-year-old Swede left the game after the first period, returning for a brief stint before leaving again and not returning.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2023.
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