@@Toronto Maple Leafs

[Mark Masters] Bunting on Cernak hit: “I tried to create space for myself because I was expecting contact from him but that time he wasn’t going in for contact & the rest happened. I never intend to hurt anyone … I’ve played over eight years, over 500 games in pro & never had a suspension”

  • April 26, 2023


[Mark Masters] Bunting on Cernak hit: “I tried to create space for myself because I was expecting contact from him but that time he wasn’t going in for contact & the rest happened. I never intend to hurt anyone … I’ve played over eight years, over 500 games in pro & never had a suspension”

15 comments

  2. I’m a bit surprised how many people think putting Bunting back in the lineup would automatically lead to another suspension

  3. That was pretty much how I interpreted the play… unfortunate outcome. I still think he’s one of our best 12 forwards though… gotta find a spot for him.

  4. It was always ridiculous to say it was an intentional headshot. He knew Cernak was right on him, but he never looks at him. At best, he might catch a glimpse through peripheral vision. With that being said, he still deserved a major and a suspension because he made direct contact to the head. Dumb play, but not a malicious one.

  6. I was always surprised how many people were saying intent to injure on this one. Seeing the play live *and* on replay, it just looks like he was going for a reverse check of sorts but executed it terribly. Not arguing the suspension, just saying it wasn’t as malicious as people have been making it out to be.

  7. Not putting Bunting in the lineup will prove to be the pivotal mistake in this series. The Lightening lost the last two games.

  9. Bunting the saint.

    Only 187 games in the NHL, for a reason, and it’s not because he is a dirty player.

  10. Shout out to the dummy that argued with me that Bunting’s hit was malicious and dirty.

  11. I believe he didn’t intend to hurt Cernak, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t careless.

  12. Cernak is 6’4 , 230 ish and a known dirty player especially in the playoffs. Bunting is 5’9 and 180 ish lbs. you can’t turn your back on a dirty player like Ballsack, I mean Cernak, without risking your own career. It’s not Bunting’s fault Cernak wasn’t ready for a pushback. I’ve seen way less get 2 min in the GTHL. Cernak being out saved Marner some crosschecks to the low back and neck area for sure. Bunting knew exactly who was there, and half the blame is Ballsack, I meant Cernak for not keeping his head up. Scott stevens always knew to expect his come uppance and was ready. Cernak is allowed to dish it but not ready to take it? Dirty players need to be ready at all times. Btw, John Cooper is a traitor to his birth country.

  13. I find it crazy that people can gobble up makar saying he didn’t know where the puck was as he deflected it to the god damn moon, but when bunting says he was bracing for contact (that happened multiple times prior in the same game with cernak) all of a sudden he’s the devil

  14. I forgive him, screw all the self righteous Leaf fans, that so quickly kicked Bunting to the curb. Not next game, but I hope he gets back in the lineup soon.

  15. I got downvoted like mad for suggesting that he should get a second chance a few days ago, fickle f-en fans.

Leave a Reply