Michael Bunting reacts to being a healthy scratch for Game 5
The Leafs have an absolute stranglehold over the Lightning after completing a 5-4 comeback win on Monday in overtime, the with the team now heading back to Toronto for a crucial Game 5, owners of a 3-1 series lead, despite missing one of their regular top 6 forwards in Michael Bunting for 3 and a half games in the series, due to a game misconduct and a suspension.
In Bunting's absence, the Leafs have won three straight games and his replacement, Matthew Knies, has earned his spot in the starting lineup going forward. Head coach Sheldon Keefe and Leafs Nation are now presented with a predicament, do you insert Bunting back into the lineup - and if so, who is he replacing?
The elephant in the room seems to have been addressed. After practice today, Keefe announced that Bunting will be a no-go for Game 5, and that his message to Bunting was to stay locked in as he will get back in eventually, just not tomorrow night.
Bunting met with the media post-practice and noted that he does want to play and he intends to return to the lineup as soon as possible. As a player who just hit his stride last season, he has overcome lots of adversity in his career and stated "there is no adversity here". It's clear that he's treating the scratch as simply just another day and is planning to continue to play in the lineup soon.
Being a player who's relied on "getting his number called" throughout his professional hockey career, Bunting knows what it means to be a good teammate and professional in the current situation. With his team out in front in the series 3-1, he understands what is at stake for the Leafs. Just like any good teammate, if sitting gives his team the best chance to win, Bunting is willing to do just that.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 26 | 746 ANSWERS Michael Bunting reacts to being a healthy scratch for Game 5 Will Bunting make it back into the lineup if there is a Game 6? | ||
| Yes, 100% | 370 | 49.6 % |
| No, I don't think so | 376 | 50.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
