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0:58Highlights: Panthers at Lightning (2/5)
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0:36Highlights: Sabres at Lightning (2/3)
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0:35Who Wins The Stadium Series: Bruins at Lightning
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0:54Bruins, Lightning Both Playing Great Hockey
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0:57Lightning Atop Eastern Conference After Great January
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0:51Tampa unseasonably cold for Lightning vs. Bruins outdoor hockey game
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0:29Highlights: Kings at Lightning (12/18)
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0:25Highlights: Lightning at Canadiens (12/9)
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0:42Highlights: Devils at Lightning (11/18)
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0:00HQ Spotlight: Panthers vs Lightning Game 2 Preview
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2025 Stats
| STATS |
A
Assists
|
P
Points
|
+/-
Plus-Minus Goals Scored For or Against Total
|
TOI/G
Time On Ice Per Game
|
PM
Penalty Minutes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 6 | 7 | 2 | 18:29 | 41 |
Top Erik Cernak News
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Rare goal in win
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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: Bags apple Saturday
Cernak notched an assist and three blocked shots in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Capitals.
Cernak returned from a two-game absence due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old saw 23:24 of ice time in his return, a season-high mark, so he appears to have no limitations going forward as long as he can avoid other injuries. He's at four helpers, 13 shots on net, 21 PIM, 40 hits and 43 blocks through 19 outings this season. That heavy playing style can take a toll, but Cernak is a worthy option for fantasy managers in banger leagues.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Good to go
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
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: Remains out Thursday
Cernak (lower body) isn't available for Thursday's clash against Edmonton, according to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
Cernak did participate in Thursday's morning skate, so he might still be able to play Saturday in Washington. The 28-year-old has three assists, 21 PIM, 39 hits and 40 blocks in 18 outings this year. The Lightning are projected to dress 12 forwards and six defensemen Thursday, but they might shift to an 11-7 split once Cernak is available, possibly at the expense of Dominic James.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Not playing Tuesday
Cernak (lower body) won't play against New Jersey on Tuesday, according to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
Cernak is day-to-day and will miss at least one game. He has chipped in three assists, 12 shots on goal, 40 blocked shots and 39 hits across 18 appearances this season. With Cernak and Max Crozier (undisclosed) unavailable, Declan Carlile and Steve Santini will be in Tuesday's lineup against the Devils.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Gets on scoresheet Tuesday
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: Suiting up Thursday
Cernak (undisclosed) will play Thursday versus the Senators, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cernak missed some time late in the preseason due to his injury. The 28-year-old is set to serve as a shutdown defenseman on the Lightning's second pairing. His heavy playing style can be useful in deeper fantasy formats, but he is injury prone because of it.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Out Saturday
Cernak (undisclosed) is set to miss Saturday's preseason game against Florida, per Lightning radio announcer Dave Mishkin.
Cernak had three goals, 21 points, 50 PIM, 157 hits and 99 blocks across 76 regular-season appearances with Tampa Bay last year. If he's not available for the Lightning's regular-season opener versus Ottawa on Thursday, then that would significantly increase the chances of Max Crozier being in the lineup.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Misses third period Thursday
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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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 230 lbs |
| Birthplace: Kosice, Slovakia |
| Age: 28 |
| Experience: 7 |
| Shoots: Right |