The Tampa Bay Lightning are performing well right before the playoffs with an impressive 9-1-1 record in March. However, they are dealing with internal issues that are affecting team morale.
Right before the game between the Lightning and the New York Islanders on Saturday, March 30 New York Islanders, the team announced that defenseman Erik Cernak would not play due to missing a team meeting, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and other reporters likeChris Krenn and Eduardo Encina from the Lightning.
Eduardo Encina, who covers the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Tampa Bay Times, reported earlier on Saturday that Cernak missed the team’s morning practice before the game against the Isles.
According to Colton Davies of Daily Faceoff, missing a team meeting goes against the team’s code of conduct.
Cernak had missed about a month of play from mid-January to early December due to an upper-body injury he suffered in early January 2024. After that and before March, he only missed one more game on February 22 due to illness.
In the 73 games played by the Lightning this season, Cernak has appeared in 60 of them and scored 1 goal and 10 assists. Cernak is known for his defensive play style, so these numbers are consistent with his performance in the league.
Erik Cernak Has Won 2 Stanley Cups With Tampa Bay
The 26-year-old defenseman has been a key player for the Lightning for a few years. Cernak was part of the teams that won the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons and played in 46 games during both runs.
Cernak ranks second in blocked shots (94) and hits (158) among Lightning players this season. He also averages 19:20 minutes per game, ranking fourth among defensemen in the club. Additionally, Cernak is a key player in short-handed action with the largest average TOI (2:50) in those situations, according to Quant Hockey.
The defenseman signed a significant eight-year, $41.6 million contract in July 2022 with Tampa Bay, which reflects his importance to the team and the organization's long-term commitment to him.
Cernak’s contract includes a no-trade clause, according to Cap Friendly, valid throughout its duration until the end of the 2031 season.
Tampa Bay Is a Lock to Make the Playoffs
Tampa Bay managed to win the game against the Islanders with a 4-1 score, further securing their position as a playoff contender, either by finishing atop the wild-card race standings or by finishing third in the Atlantic Division.
Tampa Bay (41-25-7, 89 points) is behind the
Toronto Maple Leafs (42-22-9, 93 points) by four points in the Atlantic after playing 73 games. The Lightning, though, are ahead in the wild card race by seven points over second-best Philadelphia (82 points in 75 games) trailed by (80 points in 74 games). Detroit As of Easter Sunday,
gives Tampa Bay a 99.99% chance of making the playoffs with nine games remaining in their schedule. MoneyPuck The Lightning stated on Saturday that they were benching Erik Cernak for missing a team meeting.
