Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe could face a difficult decision if the Leafs take a 3-1 series lead over Tampa tonight
After being assessed a match penalty for illegal check to the head in the second period of Game 1, Michael Bunting was suspended for 3 games of the Leafs' first round series against Tampa. With Game 4 set to take place tonight, Sheldon Keefe may be faced with a difficult lineup decision ahead of Game 5.
The last month or two of the season, Bunting was more of a problem for the Leafs than he was a solution as he garnered the reputation of a diver and had more penalties called on him or not called because of it. The last two games without him, the officials appear to have called the games a little more fairly and the Leafs have been able to play a more physical style without having to worry about penalties being called. Not only that, but they have been able to engage in post-whistle scrums without officials running in and grabbing a Leaf right away, something that happened in Game 1 before Bunting was ejected.
The question for Sheldon Keefe if the Leafs win tonight is; should he put Bunting back in the lineup for Game 5? The short answer is no for the simple, yet overused cliché of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Right now, Bunting is a liability for the Leafs, regardless of his offensive abilities. Matthew Knies has done a more than admirable job of filling his spot in the lineup and the line of Knies, Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari has been dominant against Tampa.
If the Leafs were to lose Game 5 in embarrassing fashion, then a lineup change may be necessary, but if they have a chance to close out the series at home with a lineup that doesn't include Bunting, Keefe cannot get in his own way and put him back into the lineup just because his suspension is finished. Just my two cents.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 24 | 27 ANSWERS Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe could face a difficult decision if the Leafs take a 3-1 series lead over Tampa tonight If Bunting draws back in for Game 5, who should come out of the lineup? | ||
| Knies | 0 | 0 % |
| Aston-Reese | 1 | 3.7 % |
| Lafferty | 1 | 3.7 % |
| Nobody - make Bunting the 13th forward | 25 | 92.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
