Lightning’s Erik Cernak Sidelined with Injury, Crozier Steps In

TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak will miss Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings due to an undisclosed injury. Cernak exited Thursday’s matchup against the Anaheim Ducks after just 34 seconds of ice time, leaving the team to rely on backup Maxwell Crozier for his season debut.

Cernak, a key player in Tampa Bay’s top defensive pairings, has averaged 18:15 minutes of ice time this season. His absence creates a significant gap in the Lightning’s defense as they aim to maintain their third-place standing in the Atlantic Division. Crozier, 24, will join Ryan McDonagh on the second defensive pairing. Last season, Crozier played 13 NHL games, recording two assists, 13 shots, 11 blocks, and 16 hits.

The Lightning face a challenging matchup against the Red Wings, who have won eight of their last 10 games despite being outside the playoff picture. Special teams could play a pivotal role in Saturday’s game. Detroit boasts the league’s second-best power play, converting at 29.5%, but their penalty kill ranks 31st overall. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has been effective on the power play this season, operating at 26.2%.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper emphasized the importance of the game, stating, “Our record is not where we’d like it in our division. So I think that’ll be a motivation for the guys. You start looking around, it’s now in the second half of the season. This is one of them. So we’ve just got to play that complete game, which we haven’t fully seen.”

Detroit head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the challenge of facing Tampa Bay, praising their offensive capabilities. “Top scoring team in the league per game,” McLellan said. “They are what they are. They can flat-out put it in the net, and they’ve got some superstars that play a lot, and they play in important situations.”

Cernak’s next opportunity to return will be Monday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the meantime, Crozier, who has skated in 22 games with the Syracuse Crunch this season, will look to make an impact in his NHL return. The 6-foot-3 defenseman has recorded three goals and nine points with a plus-5 rating in the AHL this season.