Leafs winger Michael Bunting has had a rough couple of days, first being struck in the face by an puck during practice on Monday, leaving him bloodied and in need of 6 stitches, then being roughed up during Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only did he get hit in a delicate area by Mikhail Sergachev, he also got violently shoved by a NHL linesman through an open gate, and then drilled into the boards from behind by Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.
The Kucherov hit was uncalled for, dangerous, reckless and completely avoidable. It was also a hit that should've merited more from the referees because of how far and how fast Kucherov came in and nailed Bunting right in the numbers. Kucherov did receive a penalty on the play, but it should have been a major, rather than a minor.
Kucherov had a questionable hit in his last game against the Leafs in Tampa Bay as well, which also warranted some supplemental discipline. However, he was able to escape any discipline in the first meeting between the two Atlantic Division rivals this season. Let's see if Player Safety gets it right the second time around.
