Toronto Maple Leafs’ Michael Bunting ejected for hit on Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting was ejected from Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.
Bunting received a match penalty after an illegal hit to the head of Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak with 4:20 left in the second period. Cernak had received a roughing minor against Bunting earlier in the period.
Bunting’s hit was reviewed and confirmed as a five-minute major. A match penalty requires an automatic hearing from the league and often leads to a suspension.
The hit was concerning to the Lightning because Cernak was the second defenseman to leave the game. Victor Hedman, their No. 1 defenseman, didn’t come out for the second period. They also lost forward Michael Eyssimont to a big hit.
The score was 4-2 Tampa Bay at the time of Bunting’s ejection. Corey Perry made it 5-2 when he scored on the power play.
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The Maple Leafs challenged the score for goalie interference, but lost the review, giving Tampa Bay a 5-on-3 advantage.
Tampa didn’t score on the 5-on-3, but it still had a man advantage when Brayden Point scored his second goal of the game with two seconds left to give the Lightning a 6-2 lead heading into the third period.
None of the injured Lightning players came out for the start of the third period, and Joseph Woll replaced Toronto starting goalie Ilya Samsonov.