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.