Erik Cernak

Stars Blown Out By Lightning 4-0

The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning met again for the second game of the home-and-home series on Monday. But this time, the Stars got shutout 4-0 by the Lightning at Amalie Arena. Dallas fell to 14-6-3, while Tampa Bay improved to 11-10-5. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 25 shots he faced en route […]

Rob Blake Saga Part II: Transfer of Power

Following a disappointing conclusion to the 2016 season, the Los Angeles Kings were reaching a pivotal fork in the road about the franchise’s direction. In the season prior, the biggest acquisition in Milan Lucic failed, for he walked into free agency and signed with the rival Edmonton Oilers. For back-to-back years, the Kings surrendered first-round […]

Steven Stamkos on the ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s High Expectations Make Early Exit Feel Like a Failure

After three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, the Tampa Bay Lightning entered the 2022-23 season expecting to make the playoffs and advance past the first round. Keeping that in mind, one can imagine the shock and disbelief players, coaches, and management felt when their season ended on April 29, 2023. For the math nuts, that’s […]

Do the Lightning Consider Lineup Changes for Pivotal Game 5?

With the Tampa Bay Lightning facing elimination in Game 5 Thursday night, the question of whether they consider making lineup changes is one worth pondering. They haven’t played poorly in the last two games. In fact, the Lightning controlled play for long stretches in Games 3 and 4. Defensive lapses late allowed the Toronto Maple […]

Lightning in Unfamiliar Territory after Blowing Two Straight Games

Closing out games for the Tampa Bay Lightning was pretty close to perfect over the last three to four seasons. When it came to the postseason, they were money from 2020 to 2022. Since defense and goaltending are a staple of many championship teams, it’s no secret that ability to shut things down late contributed […]

NHL Player Safety Must Send Message by Coming Down Hard on Playoff Headshots

The NHL Playoffs are less than a week old, and already there’s been three players helped off the ice dizzy and out of it. That’s too many, especially considering the league has been trying to cut down on such hits. While it’s true that players own much of the responsibility to avoid contact when possible […]

Vasilevskiy Must Steal a Few Games If Lightning Want to Advance in the Playoffs

With the playoffs in their early stages, it’s hard to say a goaltender has to be better. That’s especially true when the series is tied, and both goalies have been shaky. In saying that, the Tampa Bay Lightning need much more out of Andrei Vasilevskiy. He can play better than fans have seen most of […]

Shuffling the Deck: Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup to Look Different as Injuries Mount

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a war of attrition; teams quite literally grind each other down in the hopes of being the last team standing with the Stanley Cup hoisted high above their heads. Not many teams know this better than the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have played in the last three Stanley Cup Finals […]

Michael Bunting Celebrates Goal With Teammates

Michael Bunting Suspended 3 games For Illegal Hit on Erik Cernak

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday evening that Toronto Maple Leafs F Michael Bunting has been suspended 3 games for his hit in the 2nd period on Tampa Bay Lightning D Erik Cernak. The earliest Michael Bunting can return is in Game 5. On the play, Bunting was assessed a 5 minute match […]

Penguins Get Big 7-3 Win Over Lightning

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3 yesterday at PPG Paints Arena. Forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and defenseman Brian Dumoulin each had a goal and assist. Goalie Casey DeSmith made 26 saves for the Penguins, who improved to 29-21-9 and have now won two straight after losing their past four. Forward Nikita […]