Sheldon Keefe makes his final decision on Michael Bunting returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup, and it's not what you might expect
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe will have a lineup decision to make before Game 5. Super agitator Michael Bunting is eligible to return from his three game suspension for delivering an illegal check to the head of Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak during Game 1's blowout los. In his absence Toronto has won three straight games to grab a strangle hold on the series 3-1.
Matthew Knies, Sam Lafferty and Zach Aston-Reese are the only players who could potentially come out of the lineup for Bunting.
Keefe was quick to knock that list to two players on Tuesday's media availability.
«He's done a terrific job for us. So, he's a guy who's earned his spot and the opportunity to continue to play for us there.»
We needed to wait until today's practice to find out Bunting's fate. Per the lines at practice it appears like Bunting will be a scratch for Game 5
#Leafs lines at practice Apr. 26/23
Jarnkrok-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-Marner
Kerfoot-O'Reilly-Acciari
AstonReese-Kampf-Lafferty
Extra: Bunting, Simmonds
McCabe-Brodie
Giordano-Holl
Rielly-Schenn
Gustafsson-Liljegren
Mete-Timmins
Samsonov
Woll
Kallgren
I have to agree with the coach on this decision. The team is 3-0 without Bunting, no reason to mess with it. Even though Aston-Reese, and Lafferty only have one point a piece to show in four games, their play goes beyond what they contribute on the score sheet. Aston-Reese has provided Toronto with some valuable penalty kill minutes and Lafferty has been very noticeable on the forecheck the last few games.
Game 5 is on Thursday night at Scotiabank Areana in Toronto.
After practice Sheldon Keefe made it clear Bunting would NOT be in the game 5 lineup.
While Bunting appears disappointed with the decision he is taking a professional approach to the decision.
| POLL | ||
Will the Leafs close the series out at home in Game 5? | ||
| Yes, the curse is finally broken | 33 | 37.1 % |
| No, series goes seven and they lose | 40 | 44.9 % |
| No, game six win for the Leafs | 9 | 10.1 % |
| No, they win in game seven | 7 | 7.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
