Leafs winger takes two cross-checks to the back and finds himself in the penalty box for it
Late in the second period of last night's game against the Red Wings, Michael Bunting threw a hit on Wings' defenseman Jake Walman, who clearly didn't like the hit and went back at Bunting to exact some revenge It's normally a pretty cut and dry retaliation call, but this time, the officials decided to take them both, much to the chagrin of Bunting and Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.
In the clip above, you can clearly see Walman cross-check Bunting in the back twice. The first knocked him to the ice, and the second was to the small of Bunting's back that saw him wince in pain. Somehow, the officials called both Walman for cross-checking and Bunting for unsportsmanlike conduct for what many deemed to be embellishment. I don't know how you can call someone for embellishing two cross-checks (which is a textbook penalty) to the lower back.
Bunting has been the target of officials for much of the second half of the season and has gone from leading the league in drawn penalties to only being able to draw a penalty if he also takes one himself. It's very clear that the officials have decided that Bunting's antics have gone too far and are doing everything in their power to ensure that he and the Leafs don't benefit from them. This is an absolute abuse of power and it's disgusting behaviour from the officials.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3 | 14 ANSWERS Leafs winger takes two cross-checks to the back and finds himself in the penalty box for it Do you believe Bunting embellished on this play? | ||
| No | 9 | 64.3 % |
| Yes | 0 | 0 % |
| Clear abuse of power by the officials here | 5 | 35.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
