Bunting eager for a taste of Leafs’ playoff atmosphere
TORONTO — Michael Bunting had never seen a Toronto Maple Leafs playoff game in person until Monday night.
If things continue to progress as planned, the Toronto native will be in the middle of the action for his second.
Bunting took part in Tuesday’s practice alongside usual linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury April 23.
The feisty winger’s impending return — whether in today’s Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning or later in the series — should add another layer of angst and intrigue to a firstround matchup that already boiled over late in the Leafs’ resounding 5-0 opening-night victory.
“A player like Bunts is made for playoffs,” Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said following Tuesday’s brief on-ice session. “He thrives on it and I think he plays a lot of regularseason games like they’re playoff games. That’s part of what makes him successful, because he’s playing with a higher level of intensity all the time.
“That evens out a little bit at playoff time because others bring their game up. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Bunts has another level.”
A 26-year-old rookie playing for his hometown team, Bunting never had an opportunity to see former Leafs captain Mats Sundin go up against the likes of Ottawa Senators counterpart Daniel Alfredsson during their classic playoff battles in the flesh as a kid.
But he finally got a taste of Scotiabank Arena’s raucous post-season atmosphere from a private suite high above the ice Monday.
“That was playoff hockey,” said Bunting, who had 23 goals and 63 points in 79 regularseason games. “I was sweating up there.”
Getting a player of Bunting’s skill set — he provides tireless work and puck retrieval alongside the ultra-skilled Matthews and Marner — back in the fold will be a big plus as the Leafs prepare for a response from the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
“A guy that plays hard,” Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “He gets into corners, wins battles. He likes being involved. Looking forward to getting him back.”
Rielly was bearing some of the superficial scars from Monday’s third period, which included a line brawl where the star defenceman was initially grabbed and punched by Pat Maroon.
After the hulking Tampa winger and Toronto blueliner were separated, Rielly unleashed series of blows to the face of Jan Rutta in a subsequent scarp that left the Tampa defender with a gash on his forehead.
Rielly was caught by TV cameras examining his bloodied right hand in the penalty box in the immediate aftermath of the skirmishes. He practised Tuesday, but kept the hand pocketed throughout his media availability as he tried to play down the incident.
“That’s not obviously something I’m overly familiar with,” Rielly said of dropping the gloves. “Just a bit of a scrum. I didn’t think there was anything offside.”
Keefe, who predicted a “borderline violent” series ahead of Game 1, said all his players have to be ready for moments like Monday’s fisticuffs.
“You don’t like to see those kinds of things — guys that aren’t used to being involved in that, but you get [dragged] into it at times,” said the coach.