Player News

Player Update (Mon Apr 1, 2024) - Set to return Monday

Cernak (coach's decision) is expected back in the lineup against the Red Wings on Monday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Injury Update (Sat Mar 30, 2024) - Not playing Saturday

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.

Player Update (Wed Mar 13, 2024) - Set to play Thursday

Cernak (lower body) is slated to play against the Rangers on Thursday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Sat Mar 9, 2024) - Suffers lower-body injury

Cernak sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday's game versus the Flyers, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Sat Feb 24, 2024) - Good to go Saturday

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.

Injury Update (Sat Feb 24, 2024) - Good to go Saturday

Cernak (illness) is warming up ahead of Saturday's game versus the Islanders, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Thu Feb 22, 2024) - Out due to illness Thursday

Cernak (illness) won't play Thursday versus the Capitals, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Player Update (Wed Feb 7, 2024) - Set to play Wednesday

Cernak (upper body) is good to play Wednesday versus the Rangers, according to Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site.

Injury Update (Thu Jan 25, 2024) - Out next two games

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.

Injury Update (Tue Jan 23, 2024) - Won't play Tuesday

Cernak (upper body) won't play Tuesday versus Philadelphia.

Injury Update (Sun Jan 21, 2024) - Out Sunday

Cernak (upper body) is not available for Sunday's game against Detroit.

Injury Update (Sat Jan 20, 2024) - Out Saturday

Cernak (upper body) won't play Saturday against the Sabres.

Injury Update (Thu Jan 18, 2024) - Remains out Thursday

Cernak (upper body) isn't expected to play Thursday versus Minnesota.

Injury Update (Sat Jan 13, 2024) - Not playing Saturday

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Cernak (upper body) will not play Saturday versus Anaheim.

Injury Update (Fri Jan 12, 2024) - Deemed day-to-day

Cernak (upper body) is considered day-to-day, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Thu Jan 11, 2024) - Sustains upper-body injury

Cernak won't return to Thursday's game against New Jersey because of an upper-body injury.

Player Update (Tue Jan 9, 2024) - Expected to play

Cernak (upper body) is expected to return to the lineup for Tuesday's game versus LA, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Sat Jan 6, 2024) - Won't play Saturday

Cernak (upper body) won't play Saturday against Boston, according to Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.

Injury Update (Thu Jan 4, 2024) - Out Thursday

Cernak (upper body) won't return Thursday versus Minnesota

Injury Update (Tue Jan 2, 2024) - Deemed day-to-day

Per Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida, Cernak is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and won't be available for Tuesday's game against Winnipeg.

Injury Update (Sun Dec 31, 2023) - Injured in Sunday's game

Cernak (undisclosed) did not finish Sunday's game versus the Canadiens, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Player Update (Thu Nov 16, 2023) - Set to return Thursday

Cernak (upper body) will return to the lineup Thursday versus the Blackhawks, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Tue Nov 14, 2023) - Won't play Tuesday

Cernak (upper body) won't be in the lineup Tuesday against the Blues, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Injury Update (Mon Nov 13, 2023) - Labeled day-to-day

Cernak (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's clash with the Blues, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Injury Update (Sat Nov 11, 2023) - Leaves game with injury

Cernak, who left Saturday's game in the second period and didn't return, is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Player Update (Thu Sep 21, 2023) - Practices Thursday

Cernak (concussion) was on the ice for Thursday's practice to begin Lightning training camp, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Injury Update (Fri Apr 28, 2023) - Not playing Saturday

Cernak (upper body) won't play Saturday in Game 6 versus Toronto, Kristie Achert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Tue Apr 25, 2023) - Not playing in Game 5

Cernak (upper body) won't be in the lineup for Game 5 against Toronto on Thursday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Injury Update (Sun Apr 23, 2023) - Won't play Monday

Cernak (upper body) won't play Monday in Game 4 against Toronto, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Sat Apr 22, 2023) - Not practicing Saturday

Cernak (upper body) is not at practice Saturday, according to Mark Masters of TSN.

Injury Update (Wed Apr 19, 2023) - Won't play in Game 2

Cernak (upper body) won't play in Thursday's Game 2 versus Toronto, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Tue Apr 18, 2023) - Exits after high hit

Cernak (upper body) left Tuesday's Game 1 versus the Maple Leafs after a hit from Michael Bunting, Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun reports.

Player Update (Sat Apr 8, 2023) - Expected to play Saturday

Cernak (undisclosed) is expected to be in the lineup Saturday versus the Senators, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Injury Update (Thu Apr 6, 2023) - Unavailable for Thursday's game

Cernak (undisclosed) won't play Thursday versus the Islanders, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Player Update (Tue Mar 7, 2023) - Cleared to return Tuesday

Cernak (lower body) will be back in action versus the Flyers on Tuesday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Sun Mar 5, 2023) - Won't play Sunday

Cernak (lower body) won't play Sunday against Carolina, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Injury Update (Sat Mar 4, 2023) - Not playing Saturday

Cernak (lower body) will not play Saturday in Buffalo per the NHL media site.

Injury Update (Thu Mar 2, 2023) - Can't finish contest

Cernak (undisclosed) left Thursday's game versus the Penguins in the second period and did not return, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Player Update (Tue Feb 28, 2023) - Eligible to play Tuesday

Cernak has served his two-game suspension and will be available versus Florida on Tuesday.

Injury Update (Fri Feb 24, 2023) - Gets two-game suspension

Cernak was received a two-game suspension Friday as punishment for elbowing Buffalo's Kyle Okposo during Thursday's game.

Player Update (Fri Feb 24, 2023) - Could face suspension

Cernak will have a hearing with the Department of NHL Player Safety on Friday, after he elbowed the Sabres' Kyle Okposo on Thursday.

Player Update (Tue Feb 21, 2023) - Good to go

Cernak (upper body) will return to the lineup Tuesday against Anaheim, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Sat Feb 18, 2023) - Sitting again Saturday

Cernak (upper body) will miss Saturday's game versus the Golden Knights, Lightning play-by-play announcer Dave Randorf reports.

Injury Update (Wed Feb 15, 2023) - Out with upper-body injury

Cernak (upper body) won't play Wednesday versus the Coyotes, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Player Update (Mon Jan 30, 2023) - Among best hitters in NHL

Cernak has 22 hits in his last five games.

Player Update (Mon Jan 30, 2023) - One of best hitters in NHL

Cernak has 22 hits in his last five games.

Player Update (Tue Jan 17, 2023) - Notches helpers Monday

Cernak picked up an assist in Monday's clash with Seattle.

Player Update (Sat Dec 31, 2022) - Set to play Saturday

Cernak (undisclosed) is expected to play Saturday against Arizona, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Thu Dec 29, 2022) - Unlikely to finish contest

Cernak (undisclosed) left Thursday's game versus the Rangers late in the first period and is not expected to return, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Player Update (Wed Dec 14, 2022) - Delivers hard-nosed effort

Cernak scored a rare goal during a 6-2 victory over the visiting Kraken on Tuesday.

Player Update (Sat Nov 19, 2022) - Rejoins Lightning on Saturday

Cernak (undisclosed) will be back in the lineup Saturday against Nashville, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Injury Update (Thu Nov 17, 2022) - Ruled out versus Flames

Cernak (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup to face Calgary on Thursday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Injury Update (Tue Nov 15, 2022) - Isn't available to face Dallas

Cernak (undisclosed) will miss Tuesday's game against Dallas, per Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.

Injury Update (Tue Nov 15, 2022) - Isn't available Tuesday

Cernak (undisclosed) will miss Tuesday's game against Dallas, per Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.

Injury Update (Mon Nov 14, 2022) - Questionable versus Stars

Cernak (undisclosed) is in doubt to face Dallas on Tuesday after missing Monday's practice session, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Injury Update (Sun Nov 13, 2022) - Won't play Sunday

Cernak (undisclosed) won't play Sunday against Washington, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.

Injury Update (Fri Nov 11, 2022) - Injured Friday

Cernak (undisclosed) left during the third period of Friday's loss to Washington, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Injury Update (Sat Oct 22, 2022) - Expected to return Tuesday

Head coach Jon Cooper expects Cernak (upper body) to play Tuesday in Los Angeles, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

Injury Update (Sat Oct 22, 2022) - Out Saturday

Cernak (upper body) is considered day-to-day and will not suit up Saturday against the Islanders.