Bunting ejected from Game 1, receives a hearing with Player Safety for head shot on Cernak

Last night near the middle of the second period, Leafs winger Michael Bunting received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head on Erik Cernak. The Lightning scored twice on that powerplay and went 4 for 8 in the game on the powerplay.

There's no question that Bunting made contact with Cernak's head, but for it to be a major and game misconduct when Bunting isn't even looking at Cernak, but rather at the puck in the corner, is ridiculous. There are predatory hits with intent and then there are unfortunate illegal hits that occur without an intent to injure. There are a number of opinions on this one, but I don't believe this was deliberately done to hurt Cernak.

Bunting's hit on Cernak was much less violent than the hit Minnesota's Matt Dumba landed on Joe Pavelski Monday night, for which Dumba was given only 2 minutes for interference. It is absolutely ridiculous that Bunting is likely going to be suspended now as a match penalty comes with an automatic hearing with the Department of Player Safety. Meanwhile, Dumba received a slap on the wrist. This undoubtedly has as much to do with Bunting's reputation as it does with the biased officiating from Wes McCauley against the Leafs.

With Bunting likely being suspended for Game 2, we could see Matthew Knies draw into the lineup Thursday night in what many hope will be a much better game from the Leafs and more balanced officiating.

I will say this though. Typically, when any other player on any other team commits an infraction that deserves a look from Player Safety, sometimes we don't even hear about it until the following afternoon. Bunting's hearing was announced just after midnight last night. *shrugs*.

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