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Michael Bunting has looked like himself lately.

It took quite a bit for winger Michael Bunting to get the monkey off his back to start the year, but the last few games, he has proved he is back to his old form.

ByTyler Miller|
Nov 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Michael Bunting (8) and Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) battle for the puck in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Michael Bunting (8) and Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) battle for the puck in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

It took longer than usual, but winger Michael Bunting finally looks like the Michael Bunting we saw in the back half of last year's season. To start this year, he really started off slow and was moved up and down the lineup to try to find a spark, and nothing was working.

So much was going wrong to begin the year for Bunting, that he was even a healthy scratch for a game. Head coach Mike Sullivan was trying to send Bunting a message by scratching him and it seems like the message was finally received. Last year when he was traded to the Penguins, he shined with Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell, but they did not click to start the year.

Now the Malkin and Bunting combination seems to be working again.

Bunting's Perfomance against the New York Islanders

Michael Bunting officially got the monkey off of his back in the road game against the New York Islanders on Nov. 5.

Bunting finished the game with a goal, a +1, 2 hits, and 19 shifts with 11:29 TOI.

His goal against Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin was an absolute beauty, and Penguins fans knew after that goal, that Bunting was back.

What a pass from Noel Acciari and what a finish from Bunting. The Penguins lost this game in a shootout 4-3, but it was really nice to see Bunting get his first goal of the year.

Bunting's perfomance against the Washington Capitals

Bunting really looked good against the Capitals and he really let it be known. In this game, Bunting finished with a goal, a +1, 3 shots on goal, and 18 shifts with 12:17 TOI.

His goal in this one was set up by a beautiful pass from defenseman Erik Karlsson, and Bunting tipped it home with one hand to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead in the game.

Bunting officially seems to be back to his old self and that seems to be good news for the Penguins as they have been missing that from him.

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