Bunting got 5 and a game for elbow to the head of Cernak (suspended 3 games)

[b in vancouver]

It was reckless at best and ended up in a bad result. Similar to Kadri on Faulk. No intent to injure, just an over aggressive hockey play. Maybe a game?

Elbowing someone in the head away from the puck isn't 'reckless', 'a bad result', has 'no intent', 'over aggressive' or a 'hockey play'.

It was a predatory hit by an idiot who can't control himself. He should have to sit in the corner wearing a dunce cap during his 2-3 game suspension.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Additionally any respect for the Toronto coach is gone after his genuine response to the match penalty review. Unless it was disgust at Bunting, but more likely the call.

Irrefutable.

 

[ItWasJustified]

It's nothing. It was a regular reverse hit, made popular by Peter Forsberg. Cernak should keep his head up. 5 and game is enough punishment in 2023.

 

[Sensinitis]

Dirty intentional play and clearly retaliation for the bump Cernak gave him post whistle in the first period.

Suspend his bitch ass.

 

[GreatSaveLuongo]

I was told by some Leaf fans that's a "strong hockey play“ when clearly an elbow to the head...

 

[Ducer]

the Marchand hit on Mcleod was harder by a mile lol let's make a new leaf player Kadri 2.0

 

[Ducer]

not a one stride hit with a elbow in a hockey game clean this league up give him the rest of the first round.

 

[Kranix]

I was told by some Leaf fans that's a "strong hockey play“ when clearly an elbow to the head...

There's also a contingent of leafs fans bafflingly still claiming McCauly has a conflict of interest

 

[b in vancouver]

That's my point. Bunting WASN'T LOOKING TO HIT ANYONE. 5-6 seconds after the faceoff he turned to his left and Cernak turned to his right and it was Cernak who went INTO Bunting and not the reverse. Many people here believe Bunting made an intentional run at Cernak and was even aiming for his head. That's what I disagree with when its Cernak who went into Bunting leaning forward and down.

I wouldn't try to defend this one too much. Neither the play nor Bunting are worth it.
As fans we can see different things based on players we like, the team, how rough we want the hockey to be, etc. But this is cut and dry.
He was too worked up because of the playoffs and things not going their way and trying to make a statement but lost the plot and elbowed the guy who hit him earlier in the head which is incredibly dangerous and why we rarely see it anymore.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It's nothing. It was a regular reverse hit, made popular by Peter Forsberg. Cernak should keep his head up. 5 and game is enough punishment in 2023.

I have no idea how one can watch that video and equate it to a reverse hit.

 

[bossram]

Anyone who says this DID NOT watch all the angles on that play.



From the rear camera view from up the ice you can clearly see Cernak MOVING TOWARDS Bunting from the side/rear and NOT the other way around meaning it wasn't Bunting looking to make contact. Cernak is 6'4 while Bunting is listed at 6'0 so the only way Bunting's shoulder could make contact with Cernak's head is if he was leaning down which is exactly what happened. In my view it looked to me Cernak was skating towards Bunting to get his body on him and tie him up and he was leaning down while doing so and unfortunately got clipped in the head.

I get that people think he's a Marchand like rat these days and many people dislike him, but for this particular incident it wasn't his fault. Ask yourself if you were in Bunting's exact same position in that incident WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY that could've allowed you to avoid clipping Cernak in the head? I'd really like to hear it.

Leafs homers, I'm begging you, get a clue.

Answer these questions: Did Bunting hit Cernak in the head? Did Cernak have the puck?

The answer to the first question is yes. The answer to the second question is no. It's clearly a major penalty and suspension worthy.

The Leafs are pathetic. You don't have to keep doing this. Take the goggles off. Cheer for someone else.

 

[Canadienna]

I mean, I guess you could accuse Bunting of initiating contact on that, but he really doesn't do anything at all.

As for the hit, he threw the elbow up.

There's just no excuse for that shit.

It doesn't matter who the players represent, that is just not acceptable.

See the way Bunting's body flies towards the ice faster than would ever be possible from a little cold shoulder?

That's a dive. And a blatant one.

 

[TatarTangle]

Question for any(one) Leaf fan questioning a suspension;

If Point does that same thing to Matthews, what is your reaction and what do you think the punishment should be?

 

[HofT]

See the way Bunting's body flies towards the ice faster than would ever be possible from a little cold shoulder?

That's a dive. And a blatant one.

I think you're definitely reaching a bit there. But we'll say it's a dive which should tell you how bad the refs and league managed last night's game. Plus I'll add it was more so titled for Tampa giving the 2 phantoms calls and rewarding them a non goal.

 

[Ducer]

I think if Mathews took a elbow half the posters here would say it's playoff hockey suck it up leaf fans.

 

[hatterson]

It was clear retaliation by Bunting for what Cernak did earlier in the game, he just caught him harder and higher. It's definitely worth the 5+game and then DOPS can spin the wheel for 1-3 games.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

5 minutes and a game is enough.

 

[Ducer]

I'm fine with the 5 minute penalty but a one stride hit if you want to call it a hit ? really calls for a suspension the league need's to protect these all star player's named Cernak.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think if Mathews took a elbow half the posters here would say it's playoff hockey suck it up leaf fans.

A elbow or this kind of elbow?

 

[Sinistril]

Those calls that are borderline more likely than not are gonna go Tampa's way.

How is this borderline? He even took his hand off his stick to get the maximum range of the elbow.

 

[Ducer]

it's better 2 keep both hand's on the stick when you want to throw the elbow just sayin.

 

[pcruz]

I think if Mathews took a elbow half the posters here would say it's playoff hockey suck it up leaf fans.

They did.

When Toronto played Boston in Matthews' 2nd season, Wingels did a fly-by chicken wing elbow to the head of one of the Leafs players.

We were told that the players need to keep their heads up.

I said that hit should have been a suspension then.
I say this hit should be a suspension now.

I think the hit by Hartman on Ehlers is more dangerous and should have been at least 3 games, but since it's Bunting I would not be surprised if it's not 2 games.

Regardless, I think Bunting's career is over.
It wasn't this hit that caused it, but it's just one more incident to throw onto the pile and any GM who would otherwise consider Bunting for a contract would be foolish not to consider how the officials have a rabid hatred for the guy.

He would need to drastically change his play on the ice in order to not be a liability, but given his age, that ship has likely sailed long ago.

 

[notsocommonsense]

I'm fine with the 5 minute penalty but a one stride hit if you want to call it a hit ? really calls for a suspension the league need's to protect these all star player's named Cernak.

I wouldn’t call it a hit, I’d call it an elbow to the head.

 

[pcruz]

Elbowing someone in the head away from the puck isn't 'reckless', 'a bad result', has 'no intent', 'over aggressive' or a 'hockey play'.

It was a predatory hit by an idiot who can't control himself. He should have to sit in the corner wearing a dunce cap during his 2-3 game suspension.

It's really hard to describe something as predatory when the player committing the infraction isn't looking at the recipient.

A predator that isn't looking at its prey isn't going to catch much and will starve to death.

This was a reckless hit.

There is no need to exaggerate the incident. The truth is bad enough.

 

[Canadienna]

I'm fine with the 5 minute penalty but a one stride hit if you want to call it a hit ? really calls for a suspension the league need's to protect these all star player's named Cernak.

Okay so your two points are:

1) Suspensions should only be applied if the offender takes more than one stride before an illegal check

and

2) Suspensions should only be applied if the player injured is a "star" player.

That's very silly.