Predators' Michael Bunting: Finds scoresheet in loss
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Bunting scored a goal and fired five shots on net in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Hockey Club.
Bunting found the back of the net for Nashville's third and final goal of the game in the latter half of the second period. Overall, the 29-year-old winger has 19 goals, 38 points and 149 shots on net in 75 games this season between Pittsburgh and Nashville. While Bunting began his tenure with the Predators by going on a four-game point skid, he's found a rhythm offensively as of late with nine points in his last 13 outings. He's entering the final season of his three-year deal next year and will likely need to maintain some of his recent consistency if the Predators are to bring him back beyond the 2025-26 season.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Deals helper in loss
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Bunting notched an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
Bunting has four points and six shots on net over his last three games. The winger is up to eight points over 16 outings with the Predators, a pace virtually identical to what he did with the Penguins to begin the season. Bunting has a total of 18 goals, 19 assists, 144 shots on net, 70 hits, 68 PIM and a minus-21 rating across 74 appearances in 2024-25 while regularly filling a top-six role with both teams he's played for this year.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Notches assist
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Bunting recorded an assist and two shots on goal in Thursday's 4-3 shootout win over Utah.
Bunting has four points, 13 shots on net and 12 PIM over five contests in April. The 29-year-old has settled into a top-six role with the Predators since he was traded from the Penguins at the deadline. Bunting has a total of 18 goals, 18 assists, 143 shots on net, 69 hits, 68 PIM and a minus-23 rating over 73 appearances between the two teams this season.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: One of each Tuesday
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Bunting banked a goal, an assist and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 7-6 overtime win over the Islanders.
This was Bunting's first multi-point performance in a Nashville sweater and his first since Dec. 29, when he was with Pittsburgh. He has notched four goals and two assists across 14 appearances with his new club. The 29-year-old dished a primary helper in the opening frame and netted the game-tying goal with under a minute remaining in the final stanza to help the Preds pull off the comeback win. On the season, Bunting has recorded 18 goals, 17 assists and a minus-24 rating over 72 total appearances.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Three points in last five games
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Bunting scored a goal in an 8-4 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Bunting has three points, including two goals, and 12 shots in his last five games. It's a small offensive blip in an otherwise mid season. Bunting could provide short-term help in a deep format, but don't overrate him.
Predators' Michael Bunting: Opens scoring on power play
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Bunting scored a power-play goal in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Hurricanes.
Bunting opened the scoring at 5:14 of the first period as the Predators' second power-play unit cashed in. That's two goals over the last three games for Bunting, who looks to be adjusting nicely to a top-six role in Nashville. The winger is up to 16 goals, 31 points, 123 shots on net, 67 hits, 56 PIM and a minus-24 rating over 65 appearances. There's some risk to his production, especially given the Predators' struggles this year, but he offers a bit of upside in points, hits and PIM for the rest of the season.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Sparks comeback with PPG
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Bunting scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two hits in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.
The Predators were horrid in the first period, but Bunting's goal 1:39 into the second sparked their comeback. This was his first point in five games since he returned from an appendectomy he underwent while a member of the Penguins before a deadline-week deal sent him to Nashville. For the season, the 29-year-old winger has 15 goals, 30 points, 119 shots on net, 65 hits and a minus-23 rating through 63 appearances. Bunting provides a little sandpaper and depth scoring, both of which can help fantasy managers heading into the playoffs, assuming he can build off Saturday's performance.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Activated from injured reserve
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Bunting (abdomen) was activated from injured reserve Friday, indicating he'll return to the lineup versus the Ducks, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
The Predators now have 12 healthy forwards on the roster, assuming Bunting is able to make his team debut Friday. The 29-year-old figures to play in a middle-six role, though it's possible he is eased back into action following an appendectomy. Prior to getting traded to Nashville, he produced 29 points in 58 appearances with the Penguins.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Game-time call Friday
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Bunting (abdomen) will be a game-time decision against the Ducks on Friday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Bunting has yet to suit up for the Predators after being acquired via trade from Pittsburgh at the deadline. Prior to getting hurt, the winger was mired in a 10-game goal drought dating back to Feb. 25 versus the Flyers, registering two assists and 20 shots over that stretch.
Bunting (appendectomy) is day-to-day and is unlikely to be available for the Predators' game Saturday versus Chicago, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Bunting had surgery last week and was dealt Wednesday from Pittsburgh with Luke Schenn and Thomas Novak heading the other way. Bunting had 14 goals and 15 assists with the Penguins over 58 games, and was a force on the power play with 15 points, including nine markers.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Heading to Nashville
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Bunting (abdomen) and a 2026 fourth-round pick were traded to the Predators from the Penguins on Wednesday in exchange for Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
Bunting is out indefinitely while recovering from an appendectomy he underwent Feb. 27. The 29-year-old will probably be able to return prior to the end of the regular season, but that's not the focus for the Predators, who get a top-six winger under contract for 2025-26. Bunting has a little grit in his game and can be a power-play force, but the Predators will need to bounce back as a team to avoid tanking his fantasy value. With the Penguins this season, Bunting put up 29 points (15 on the power play) in 58 appearances.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Placed on injured reserve
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Bunting was put on injured reserve Thursday after undergoing appendix surgery.
Bunting was already regarded as being out indefinitely due to the surgery, so his placement on IR doesn't come as a surprise. He has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 appearances in 2024-25. Emil Bemstrom was recalled from the minors in a corresponding move and is a possibility to serve in a bottom-six capacity during Bunting's absence, though Bokondji Imama will compete with Bemstrom for that spot.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Undergoes appendectomy
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Bunting recently underwent surgery to remove his appendix and will be sidelined indefinitely, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Thursday.
Bunting is currently mired in a 10-game goal drought during which he registered 20 shots, two assists and eight hits. With Bunting on the shelf, the Penguins may not have to send Matt Nieto to the minors after placing him on waivers Wednesday. Pittsburgh's season is all but over, so there will be no rush to get Bunting back into the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Battling illness
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Bunting (illness) missed Wednesday's practice, according to Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Bunting has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 appearances in 2024-25. If he's not able to play Thursday versus Philadelphia, then Matt Nieto will probably draw back into the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Posts power-play assist
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Bunting logged a power-play assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Bunting's last five points -- in a span of 14 games -- have all come on the power play. He snapped a five-game point drought Friday with his helper. For the season, the 29-year-old winger is at 28 points (15 on the power play), 100 shots on net, 57 hits, 48 PIM and a minus-16 rating through 54 contests. His even-strength play is likely to remain mediocre until his usual center, Evgeni Malkin (lower body), gets back in the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Strikes on power play in loss
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Bunting scored a power-play goal on three shots and went minus-2 in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Ducks.
Bunting prevented a shutout loss when he scored in the second period. He had been limited to two assists over his last six outings. The winger is up to 14 goals, 13 assists, 90 shots on net, 51 hits, 46 PIM and a minus-15 rating through 48 appearances. If Bryan Rust (lower body) misses additional time, Bunting could be a candidate to see more ice time.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Slides power-play helper
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Bunting provided a power-play assist, two hits and two PIM in Friday's 5-2 win over the Sabres.
Bunting had been held off the scoresheet in his previous two appearances and also missed one game in that span due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old winger has six goals and four assists over his last 11 outings, and seven of those points have come on the power play. He's up to 26 points (13 on the power play), 84 shots on net, 50 hits, 44 PIM and a minus-15 rating through 45 contests.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Available to play
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Bunting (undisclosed) will return to the lineup against Seattle on Tuesday, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Bunting sat out Sunday's 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay after being involved in a car accident outside PPG Paints Arena. He has registered 13 goals, 25 points, 84 shots on net, 48 hits and 42 PIM through 43 appearances this season. With Bunting back and Evgeni Malkin (upper body) considered a game-time decision, Jesse Puljujarvi and Matt Nieto could be healthy scratches versus the Kraken.
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