Erik Cernak - NHL News & Rumors

MAY 1 • YOUTUBE

Rare goal in OT win Cernak scored a goal Monday in a 4-3 overtime win over Detroit.

Impact Cernak put the Bolts up 2-1 late in the second period on a goalmouth scramble. Cam Talbot had stopped Cernak's initial redirection and Ryan McDonagh's subsequent rebound. McDonagh grabbed his own rebound and passed back to Cernak, who drilled the puck past Talbot, who was down and out. It was the defensive defender's first point in 11 games. He has three goals, eight assists, 112 hits, 97 blocks and 52 shots in 60 contests.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Nikita Kucherov scores 27 seconds into OT to give the Lightning a 4-3 victory against the Red Wings

Nikita Kucherov scored 27 seconds into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 4-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings

APRIL 14 • Associated Press

Zero Visibility 😭👀

APRIL 1 • YOUTUBE

Jake Guentzel's goal, 2 assists lead Lightning over Predators 3-2

Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists while Corey Perry broke a third-period tie to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory against the Nashville Predators on Sunday to move...

MARCH 30 • Associated Press

Pots go-ahead goal in win Cernak scored the go-ahead goal Tuesday in a 6-3 win over Minnesota.

Impact Cernak broke a tight game open with 2:53 remaining in the third period. Filip Gustavsson couldn't control a shoot in as it careened off the boards, and it trickled through his legs at the left post. He was right there to knock it in at the top of the crease. It's Cernak's second goal of the season; he has 10 points, 92 hits, 81 blocks and 39 shots in 49 games.

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

Cernak scores on crazy carom late in 3rd period as the Lightning beat the Wild 6-3

Erik Cernak scored a tiebreaking goal with 2:53 left in the third period when Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson misplayed a carom off the end boards and the Tampa Bay Lightning...

MARCH 25 • Associated Press

Offers pair of helpers Cernak notched two assists in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Canucks.

Impact Cernak snapped a nine-game point drought with the rare multi-point effort, his first such performance this season. The 28-year-old blueliner is at nine points, 37 shots on net, 84 hits, 79 blocked shots, 52 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 46 outings. Cernak continues to fill a bottom-four role as a physical shutdown defenseman.

MARCH 20 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to return for Saturday Per, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, Cernak (undisclosed) is slated to return to the lineup Saturday, according to Tampa Bay assistant coach Rob Zettler.

Impact 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.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time call for Saturday 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.

Impact 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.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

Not available Thursday Cernak (undisclosed) has been ruled out of Thursday's tilt against Detroit, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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.

MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE

Will not play Tuesday Cernak (undisclosed) won't suit up against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Impact 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. Steven Santini was brought up from the minors Tuesday to give the Lightning an extra defenseman while Cernak is out.

MARCH 10 • ROTOWIRE

Juraj Slafkovsky scores twice as Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 to open the Milan Cortina Olympics

Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice to pick up where he left off four years ago, fellow NHL player Dalibor Dvorsky got the tiebreaking goal with less than 13 minutes left and Slovakia pu...

FEBRUARY 11 • Associated Press

Puck drops on men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics with NHL players

Men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics with NHL players back is off to a fast and unpredictable start

FEBRUARY 11 • Associated Press

Rare goal in win Cernak scored a goal on two shots and added four hits in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Panthers.

Impact 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.

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Vasilevskiy stops 33 shots, Lightning beat Panthers 6-1 in final game before break

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots to improve to 16-0-1 in his past 17 games, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 6-1 on Thursday night in the final game for...

FEBRUARY 6 • Associated Press

Suiting up Monday Cernak (upper body) is available for Monday's home game against the Mammoth.

Impact 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 No. 2 pairing next to Declan Carlile versus Utah.

JANUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Marchment's hat trick lifts Blue Jackets past Lightning 8-5

Mason Marchment recorded his third career hat trick, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat Tampa Bay 8-5 on Saturday night, ending the Lightning’s streak of 15 straight games without...

JANUARY 25 • Associated Press

Mathieu Olivier destroys Erik Cernak. Lightning furious after Mathieu Olivier takes out Erik Cernak with a devastating hit.

JANUARY 25 • HOCKEYFEED.COM

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.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Lightning beat Flyers for 10th straight win as Cooper notches 600th win

Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov each had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning notched their 10th consecutive victory with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphi...

JANUARY 13 • Associated Press

Brandon Hagel scores winner as Lightning beat Avalanche 4-2

Brandon Hagel snapped a third-period tie with his 20th goal of the season to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to their eighth consecutive win with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avala...

JANUARY 7 • Associated Press

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.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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