Maple Leafs left winger Michael Bunting notches second career NHL hat trick

Toronto Maple Leafs (Wikimedia Commons)

Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Michael Bunting of Scarborough, Ontario notched his second National Hockey League career hat trick on Saturday. Bunting scored thrice as the Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 7-4 from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

After Detroit took a 3-1 second period lead, Bunting pulled the Maple Leafs within one goal at 3-2, with his 10th goal of the season from Justin Holl and David Kampf at 12:07 of the middle frame. Then Bunting scored the first two of five third period goals for Toronto. With the Maple Leafs down 4-2, Bunting pulled Toronto within one at 4-3, with a goal from Holl and Auston Matthews at 9:28 of the final period. Then at 11:58 of the third period, Bunting tied the game at four goals apiece from Mitch Marner of Markham, Ontario, and Matthews at 11:58.

Bunting’s prior hat trick came on April 5, 2021. It came in a 5-2 Arizona Coyotes win over the Los Angeles Kings. After two seasons with the Coyotes in 2018-19, and 2020-21, Bunting signed a two-year deal worth $1.9 million with Toronto on July 28, 2021.

This season, Bunting now has 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 40 games. He has 87 shots on goal and is a +3 with 28 penalty minutes, three power play points, one game-winning goal, two faceoff wins, 10 blocked shots, 38 hits, 19 takeaways, and 10 giveaways.

Toronto has now won three games in a row. They are in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 27 wins, 10 regulation losses, and three losses in extra time for 57 points.

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