Defenseman Cale Makar will miss Game 5 of the Colorado Avalanche's first-round playoff series on Wednesday after he was suspended for his hit on Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann while committing an interference penalty.

The hit occurred in the first period of Seattle's 3-2 overtime win that tied the series 2-2.

Kraken coach Dave Hakstol, who described it as a "late hit, said McCann would miss Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver and could possibly miss more than just one game.

The Maple Leafs expected Michael Bunting would be suspended. Their focus now is moving on without him.

Toronto's top-six winger was handed a three-game suspension Wednesday for an illegal check to the head and interference against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in Game 1 of the teams' first-round NHL playoff series Tuesday.

Bunting's actions leave the Leafs short-handed for a significant portion of the remaining matchup. But coach Sheldon Keefe stood behind his player ahead of Thursday's Game 2, when Toronto will try to even its series with the Lightning after a disastrous 7-3 loss in Game 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head and interference against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak. The discipline was announced on Wednesday following a hearing for Bunting with the NHL's Department of Player Safety earlier in the day.

Bunting will sit out Games 2, 3 and 4 of Toronto's first-round playoff series against the Lightning. 

Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman was suspended one game following his interference infraction in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Hartman was disciplined by the NHL on Wednesday for his huge open-ice hit against Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers at the 11:31 mark of the third period.