Cernak (undisclosed) is expected to be in the lineup since the Lightning will dress seven defensemen for their game versus the Jets on Thursday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.
Cernak left the Lightning's last game after blocking a shot, but it appears a week-long break in the team's schedule has worked in his favor to avoid missing additional time. The 27-year-old could see fewer minutes than usual given the Lightning playing seven blueliners, but he should still see significant defensive usage.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Leaves game after blocked shot
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Cernak did not return to Thursday's game versus the Flyers after blocking a shot in the second period, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
There was no update on Cernak's status after the game. The 27-year-old's heavily defensive playing style often leads to him needing attention at times during games. He'll have the benefit of an extended break in the schedule for the Lightning -- their next game is next Thursday versus the Jets.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Snags assist Friday
Rotowire
Cernak recorded an assist and three shots on goal in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Wild.
Cernak was able to avoid missing time after exiting Wednesday's game in Colorado with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old blueliner plays a hard game, which often makes him a magnet for injuries. That doesn't tend to be a problem for fantasy managers, as Cernak rarely scores enough to warrant consideration in most formats. He has four assists, nine shots on net, 16 hits, 15 blocked shots, 10 PIM and a plus-2 rating through 11 outings.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Playing against Wild
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Cernak (upper body) will be in the lineup versus Minnesota on Friday, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
Cernak was hurt in the second period against Colorado on Wednesday but appears to be no worse for the wear. Through 10 games this season, the 27-year-old blueliner has notched three assists, 16 hits and 15 blocks while averaging 19:17 of ice time. Cernak is unlikely to offer much in the way of offensive upside but could still offer decent mid-range fantasy value in banger leagues.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Suffers injury Wednesday
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Cernak (upper body) was injured in the second period of Wednesday's game versus the Avalanche, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Cernak was hit high by Matthew Stienburg and wasn't able to return to the game. Head coach Jon Cooper didn't have an update on Cernak's status after the contest. The Lightning are in the middle of a road trip with the next game coming Friday in Minnesota. Nick Perbix would draw into the lineup if Cernak can't play.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Nabs assist in loss
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Cernak logged a shorthanded assist, two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Wild.
Cernak isn't one to put up a lot of offense, though he's been decent early in the year with three assists through seven games this season. The defenseman helped out on Brandon Hagel's game-tying goal in the second period. Cernak has added four shots on net, six PIM, 12 hits, 11 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating while playing on the second pairing.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Helps out on empty-netter
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Cernak recorded an assist, two shots on goal, two hits and two blocked shots in Friday's 4-1 win over the Hurricanes.
Cernak had a secondary assist on Nikita Kucherov's first empty-netter. Offense has never been much of a component of Cernak's play -- he's a physical shutdown defenseman who can handle top-four minutes. He's also reached the 70-game mark just once in his first six campaigns, so any fantasy managers counting on him for hits and blocked shots should have a backup plan in place. Last campaign, he produced two goals, 11 helpers, 198 hits, 109 blocks and 63 PIM over 69 regular-season appearances.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Set to return Monday
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Cernak (coach's decision) is expected back in the lineup against the Red Wings on Monday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Cernak was held out of Saturday's game versus the Islanders after missing a team meeting but it seems his punishment won't carry beyond that one game. The defenseman had just two assists and two shots on goal over 10 games in March. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to break out of his 17-game goal drought any time soon.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Not playing Saturday
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Cernak (coach's decision) won't play Saturday against the Islanders after missing a team meeting, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cernak will be replaced in the lineup by Haydn Fleury, who missed the past six games due to a lower-body injury. The 26-year-old Cernak has 11 points, 61 PIM, 94 blocked shots and 158 hits in 60 appearances this season.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Sets up empty-netter
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Cernak notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Golden Knights.
Cernak has three helpers over his last seven contests, a rare run of productivity for the defense-first blueliner. The 26-year-old is up to 11 points, 144 hits, 87 blocked shots, 61 PIM and 43 shots on net through 56 outings this season. While he often sees top-four minutes, his lack of offense severely limits his fantasy value.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Set to play Thursday
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Cernak (lower body) is slated to play against the Rangers on Thursday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cernak appears to have avoided a serious issue after suffering a lower-body injury against the Flyers on Saturday. The 26-year-old defenseman has just two points in his last 10 contests while garnering just six shots over that span. Outside of hits and blocks, Cernak shouldn't be expected to offer much in the way of fantasy value.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Suffers lower-body injury
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Cernak sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday's game versus the Flyers, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Per Krenn, head coach Jon Cooper didn't not provide a specific update as to how much concern there is for Cernak's status going forward. The Lightning are off until Thursday's game versus the Rangers, which may give the defenseman time to recover if it's a fairly minor injury. If he has to miss time, Calvin de Haan will likely take Cernak's spot in the lineup.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Good to go Saturday
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Cernak (illness) is warming up ahead of Saturday's game, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports, indicating he will play against the Islanders.
After missing Thursday's matchup with an illness, Cernak appears ready to go Saturday. The 26-year-old blueliner has eight points (one goal, seven assists) with 128 hits and 74 blocked shots through 46 games this season.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Out due to illness Thursday
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Cernak (illness) won't play Thursday versus the Capitals, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Cernak has been banged up a few times this season, so this is a relatively favorable reason for an absence. He should be considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's game versus the Islanders. Calvin de Haan will play in place of Cernak on Thursday.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Pots first goal of season
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Cernak scored his first goal of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout win over the Bruins.
The 26-year-old blueliner opened the scoring early in the first period, firing a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that trickled through Linus Ullmark's five-hole. Cernak has two points in four games since returning from an upper-body injury, but his main fantasy value comes from his physical play -- he dished a game-high eight hits Tuesday, and on the season Cernak has 110 hits and 69 blocked shots in 43 games.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Set to play Wednesday
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Cernak (upper body) is good to play Wednesday versus the Rangers, according to Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site.
Cernak, who last played Jan. 11, has five assists, 23 PIM, 90 hits and 63 blocks in 39 outings in 2023-24. He's penciled in to play on the second pairing alongside Mikhail Sergachev, who is returning from a lower-body injury, versus New York. With the Lightning set to get two defensemen back, Calvin de Haan and Haydn Fleury are slated to be healthy scratches Wednesday.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Out next two games
Rotowire
Cernak (upper body) won't play Thursday against Arizona or Saturday versus New Jersey, but he should be ready to return following the All-Star break, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
Cernak will set his sights on returning to action Feb. 7 against the Rangers. He's collected just five helpers through 39 contests this campaign, so fantasy managers shouldn't need to keep tabs on Cernak.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Won't play Tuesday
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Cernak (upper body) won't play Tuesday versus Philadelphia.
Cernak, who remains day-to-day, will miss his fifth straight contest. He has supplied five assists, 31 shots on goal, 63 blocked shots and 90 hits across 39 outings this campaign. Max Crozier will play again versus the Flyers due to Cernak's absence.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Out Sunday
Rotowire
Cernak (upper body) is not available for Sunday's game against Detroit.
Cernak has now missed four straight games and it's unclear when the team expects him to return. His next chance to suit up will be Tuesday in Philadelphia.
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Lightning's Erik Cernak: Out Saturday
Rotowire
Cernak (upper body) won't play Saturday against the Sabres.
Cernak will miss a third game after suffering an injury Jan. 11 against New Jersey. Emil Martinsen Lilleberg and Max Crozier will round out Tampa's third pairing. The 26-year-old Cernak has five assists, 90 hits and 63 blocked shots in 39 games this season. It remains to be seen if he will be ready to go Sunday versus Detroit.
