This season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are currently in last place in the Metropolitan Division and sit at 15th in the Eastern Conference. They suffered a 6-1 loss on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins and Flyers will also meet again tonight. The Penguins have dropped four straight and five of their last six. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said they will be without Michael Bunting who had surgery to remove his appendix. He will be out for a while according to Sullivan. A loss to their third line where he was playing with Kevin Hayes and Philip Tomasino. Danton Heinen will replace him on the third line and Emil Bemstrom will take his spot in the lineup.
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Michael Bunting
Bunting is in his sixth season having spent time with four teams, the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Penguins. He was drafted by Arizona in 2014 with the 117th pick. Bunting spent his first two seasons in Arizona, he played in 26 games recording 14 points on 11 goals and three assists, he was a minus-one. He also recorded three power-play goals. Bunting then signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In two seasons he played in 161 games recording 112 points on 46 goals and 66 assists. He was a +48 and had 15 power-play points, he finished third in Calder Trophy voting in 2021-22. In 2023 he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, he played in 60 games recording 36 points on 13 goals and 23 assists. He was a -15 and had 16 power-play points. The Penguins then acquired Bunting during the 2023-24 season. He played in 21 games recording 19 points on six goals and 13 assists. He was a minus-four and had five power-play points. This season in 58 games he has 29 points on 14 goals and 15 assists. He is a -18 and has 15 power-play points.
ITR 30: Down The Stretch – Inside The Rink
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