Maple Leafs' Bunting returns for Game 2

The Toronto Maple Leafs got another boost Wednesday as Michael Bunting slotted back into the lineup for Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He scored in his playoff debut and logged 15:38 of ice time during the Maple Leafs' 5-3 defeat.

Bunting missed the final three regular-season contests and Game 1 of the first-round playoff series with an undisclosed injury.

The Calder Trophy candidate practiced Wednesday and was projected to line up alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto's top forward unit.

Michael Bunting looks ready pic.twitter.com/QvTbZiFMXH

- Mark Masters (@markhmasters) May 4, 2022

"A player like Bunts is made for playoffs," Keefe said Tuesday. "He plays a lot of regular-season games like they're playoff games, and that's part of what makes him successful because he's playing with a higher level of intensity all the time."

Maple Leafs forward Ondrej Kase returned to the lineup for Toronto's victory in Game 1 after missing 20 contests due to a concussion.

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