Michael Bunting has been slapped with a three-game suspension by the NHL 's Department of Player Safety, following a clash with Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was ejected from the first Play-Off game against Lightning on Tuesday after slamming into Cernak towards the end of the second period. Cernak did not have the puck at the time, and did not return to the ice after being hit in the head by Bunting.
Cernak has already been ruled out for game two on Thursday night as a result, but Bunting will also miss the next three games after the NHL ruled his check as illegal. It's yet another first-round Play-Off suspension for the Leafs, who have given themselves a mountain to climb in the series.
