Lightning’s Erik Cernak to miss game against Oilers; Anthony Cirelli doubtful to play

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper provided injury updates for defenseman Erik Cernak and center Anthony Cirelli prior to Tuesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.

According to Cooper, Cernak will miss Tuesday’s game, while Cirelli is doubtful, but not confirmed to be out just yet.

Jon Cooper on the #Bolts injuries ahead of this game: “Cernak is out for sure. I would put Cirelli as doubtful”

— Gabby Shirley (@Gabby_Shirley_) December 10, 2024

Both players suffered their injuries during Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Beyond their availability for Tuesday’s game, very little is known about either injury, including what injuries the players are dealing with.

Cirelli left Sunday’s game in the first period after being on the receiving end of a hard hit, and did not return for the second or third period. He had just 4:37 of ice time in the game with two shots on net.

Cernak’s reason for departing the game was less clear, as he played one shift in the third period before returning to the dressing room. He finished the game with a blocked shot, a hit, two giveaways and one takeaway in 12:22 of ice time.

Cirelli is having the most productive season of his career this season with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 25 games. That puts him on pace for 78 points, well past his current career high of 45 points, and was good enough to see him get selected for Team Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

Cernak has also been producing at a solid rate by his standards, with 7 assists in 25 games. That would put him on pace for 22 points, which would also beat his current career high of 18 points. He’s also been one of the Lightning’s better blueliners defensively, with his +0.2 5v5 expected goals against per 60 minutes relative to his teammates being second amongst Lightning defensemen after Ryan McDonagh.

Based on the lines and defense pairings run during Monday’s practice without Cirelli and Cernak, it appears that Cam Atkinson will slot back into the lineup and on the second line to replace Cirelli, while J.J. Moser will move up and replace Cernak on the second pairing. Atkinson has spent 18 total seconds with Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul, although the trio have allowed a goal against together in that short time, while Moser has spent a bit more time with McDonagh, as the two have a 44.48% 5v5 expected goals share and have held the score even at 2-2 in 34:42 of ice time together. Nick Perbix is also expected to draw into the lineup after being scratched on Sunday.

Steven Santini was also recalled from the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to give them another healthy defenseman on the roster. Santini has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 14 games with the Crunch this season.

The Lightning will look build off of back-to-back wins when they visit the Oilers on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST. Tampa Bay currently sits in fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 14-9-2 record, which is good enough for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.