Lightning's Erik Cernak: Expected to return for Saturday
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Per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, Cernak (undisclosed) is slated to return to the lineup Saturday against Carolina, according to Tampa Bay assistant coach Rob Zettler.
Cernak has missed the last two games. The 28-year-old blueliner has one goal and seven points across 43 games this season. Declan Carlile (undisclosed) should be the odd-man out Saturday against Carolina.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Game-time call for Saturday
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Cernak (undisclosed) practiced Friday and will be a game-time decision for Saturday's clash versus Carolina, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cernak has missed the last two games with the injury. He has one goal, six assists, 81 hits, 77 blocked shots and 52 PIM across 43 games this season. Look for Declan Carlile (undisclosed) to be scratched if Cernak is able to play.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Not available Thursday
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Cernak (undisclosed) has been ruled out of Thursday's tilt against Detroit, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cernak should be considered day-to-day according to head coach Jon Cooper after Thursday's contest. Cernak will miss his second straight game and will be replaced in the lineup by Steve Santini once again. Cernak has one goal, six assists, 81 hits and 77 blocked shots across 43 appearances this season. He could return to action as early as Saturday versus Carolina.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Will not play Tuesday
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Cernak (undisclosed) won't suit up against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Head coach Jon Cooper said that following Tuesday's game, Cernak can be considered day-to-day. The right-shot blueliner was injured during Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Sabres after a fight with Michael Kesselring in the second period, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. Steve Santini was brought up from the minors Tuesday to give the Lightning an extra defenseman while Cernak is out.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Rare goal in win
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Cernak scored a goal on two shots and added four hits in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Panthers.
Cernak scored for the first time since April 28, 2025, which was a playoff game versus the Panthers. This was his first regular-season tally since Feb. 27, 2025 against the Flames. The 28-year-old defenseman has had a tough year on offense with seven points, 32 shots on net, 73 hits, 67 blocked shots, 41 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 36 appearances.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Suiting up Monday
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Cernak (upper body) is available for Monday's home game against the Mammoth.
Cernak was injured Saturday in Columbus and classified as a game-time decision earlier Monday, but he's seemingly no worse for wear after taking a hard hit from Mathieu Olivier. The 28-year-old Cernak will skate on the second pairing next to Declan Carlile versus Utah.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Considered game-time decision
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Cernak (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Monday's matchup against Utah, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cernak exited Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets due to his upper-body injury, and he'll be evaluated in the hours leading up to Monday's puck drop before the Lightning determine his status. If Cernak is unable to play, Max Crozier will likely enter the lineup.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Hurt in Saturday's game
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Cernak (upper body) won't return to Saturday's game versus the Blue Jackets, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Cernak was hit hard by Mathieu Olivier in the first period. The 28-year-old Cernak needed some help getting off the ice, and it's unclear if he'll be able to bounce back quickly from this injury. The Lightning's next game is Monday at home versus the Mammoth.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Earns first helper since return
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Cernak logged an assist, five blocked shots, two hits and two PIM in Monday's 5-1 win over the Flyers.
The helper was Cernak's first point in six games since he returned from a long-term hand injury. The 28-year-old defenseman has resumed a second-pairing role and will continue to provide steady physical play when in the lineup. For the season, Cernak has five helpers, 15 shots on net, 25 PIM, 54 hits and 54 blocked shots over 25 outings.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Off long-term injured reserve
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Cernak (hand) was activated off long-term injured reserve and is expected to play Wednesday versus Anaheim, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
Cernak hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 22 because of the injury. He has four assists, 21 PIM, 40 hits and 43 blocks in 19 outings in 2025-26. Max Crozier might be a healthy scratch Wednesday as a result of Cernak's return.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Practices Saturday
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Cernak (hand) participated in Saturday's morning skate and could be nearing a return to the lineup, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cernak will miss his 16th straight game against Florida on Saturday. However, he might be ready to return during the team's upcoming three-game road trip, which begins Wednesday against Anaheim. Cernak has contributed four assists, 13 shots on goal, 43 blocked shots and 40 hits through 19 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Moves to LTIR
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Cernak (undisclosed) was moved to long-term injured, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times on Saturday.
Cernak will miss his 11th straight game against the Islanders on Saturday, and he isn't close to returning to the lineup. He hasn't been practicing and didn't accompany his teammates on the road. Cernak has four assists, 13 shots on goal, 43 blocked shots and 40 hits through 19 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Placed on injured reserve
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Cernak (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
The Lightning announced Monday that Cernak was considered week-to-week due to an undisclosed injury, so his placement on injured reserve isn't particularly surprising. Declan Carlile and Steve Santini will likely operate on the third defensive pairing in Cernak's absence, while Maxim Groshev was called up from AHL Syracuse on Monday to provide additional depth.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Facing multi-week absence
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Cernak was deemed week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Monday.
Cernak's latest injury is reportedly unrelated to the previous issue that kept him out for a pair of games prior to his return to the lineup Saturday. This latest issue seems significantly more severe than the previous one, given his timeline. For now, it will be Declan Carlile and Steve Santini on the third pairing, though Maxim Groshev was called up from AHL Syracuse on Monday. If the Bolts need a roster spot, Cernak will likely be designated for injured reserve.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Good to go
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Cernak (lower body) is expected to play Saturday versus the Capitals, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cernak was on the likely side of a game-time decision and should be good to go after skating in warmups on the first pairing. Steve Santini will exit the lineup to make space for Cernak.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Game-time decision
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Cernak (lower body) will be a game-time decision against Washington on Saturday, per Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley.
Tampa Bay hopes to have Cernak back following a two-game absence. The 28-year-old defender has three assists, 12 shots on goal, 40 blocked shots and 39 hits across 18 appearances this season. If Cernak returns to action, Steve Santini will be a healthy scratch versus the Capitals.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Gets on scoresheet Tuesday
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Cernak logged an assist, six hits and two PIM in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Predators.
Cernak is rarely a big contributor on offense, and that's held true with him earning two helpers over the Lightning's first 10 games. The 28-year-old continues to be a physical defenseman in a top-four role, racking up 21 hits, 23 blocked shots and eight PIM this season. His playing style can leave him vulnerable to injuries, but the lack of offense -- his career high is 21 points, set in 76 regular-season outings last year -- is what keeps him off the radar in most fantasy formats.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Misses third period Thursday
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Cernak (undisclosed) did not play in the third period of Thursday's preseason game versus the Panthers, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Cernak was in and out of the game a couple of times after taking some knocks. There was no update on his status after the contest, but it's possible the Lightning are just taking the proper precautions to have him healthy for the start of the regular season next Thursday versus the Senators.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Buries goal in loss
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Cernak scored a goal on three shots, added five hits and blocked three shots in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 4.
Cernak ended an 11-game point drought with his second-period tally. The 27-year-old blueliner continues to fill a shutdown role on the second pairing, which has earned him a plus-2 rating, 11 shots on net, 13 hits and four blocked shots over four playoff outings. He had a career year with 21 points and a plus-29 rating over 76 regular-season appearances.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Set to return
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Cernak (undisclosed) is expected to play Thursday versus Utah.
Cernak left Tuesday's 6-1 win over Pittsburgh due to the injury, but it seems he won't miss a full game. He has three goals, 20 points, 35 PIM and 148 hits across 65 outings in 2024-25.
