Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting suspended three games for illegal head check
“It is also important to note this is also interference,” NHL Player Safety states. “Cernak is never in possession of the puck during this sequence and therefore should have no reason to expect to be checked, making him particularly vulnerable.Article content
“This is also not a case in which two players approaching a puck simultaneously are mutually prepared for contact to occur as they battle for space. The puck is some distance from both players when contact is initiated by Bunting. This is an illegal check to the head delivered to a player who has no reason to anticipate any contact, let alone contact with sufficient force to cause an injury.”.
Bunting participated in practice on Wednesday as an extra forward, as his hearing with the NHL was later in the day and the Leafs figured a suspension was coming. “He has put himself into a bad spot, but we have options if needed and we will move things around,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s the guy who plays with our top players, has ability to score goals for us, plays with lots of energy. He is an important part of our team.”
It’s expected Matthew Knies will draw into the Leafs lineup, if Keefe doesn’t decide to dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen in Game 2.
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