Erik Černák Remains Out For Game 6
- As the Tampa Bay Lightning attempt to climb out of a 3-1 hole and force a Game 7, they’ll still be without shutdown defenseman Erik Černák. Černák hasn’t played since leaving Game 1 due to a hit to the head from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting, and head coach Jon Cooper confirmed today he won’t play in tomorrow’s Game 6. Tampa Bay has allowed over four goals a game in Černák’s absence, including blown leads in both Games 3 and 4.
Remi Elie Linked To Swedish Club
Former Dallas Stars forward Remi Elie could extend his tenure overseas this summer. After spending the 2022-23 season with SHL club Färjestad BK, Swedish outlet Expressen reports that Elie is signing a one-year contract to join fellow SHL team Linköping HC in 2023-24.
Elie last played in the NHL in 2021-22, although it was just a one-game stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old was a second-round pick of the Stars in 2013 and has played just over 100 NHL games over the course of four seasons.
He did have one full-time season in the Dallas organization, recording 14 points in 72 games in 2017-18. After that, however, he spent the next three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, only getting NHL games in 2018-19.
It seems now that a return to North American hockey is unlikely for Elie, who may find a home in the Swedish circuit. The journeyman forward finished ninth on Färjestad in scoring last season with 18 points in 32 games, alongside former NHLers and prospects Joakim Nygard, Theodor Lennstrom, and Ville Pokka.
The Ontario product also has 256 AHL games to his name, recording 121 points across stints with the Texas Stars, Rochester Americans, and Syracuse Crunch.
Injury Notes: Jeannot, Eyssimont, Lizotte
The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to avoid elimination in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and will have to do so without their big trade deadline pickup. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Tanner Jeannot was not on the ice when the team stepped out for warmup, and is dealing with an injury. The Lightning surprisingly traded first, second, third, fourth and fifth round draft picks as well as prospect Cal Foote for Jeannot in February.
Jeannot had one goal and four points in 20 regular season games for the Lightning after the trade, and has been held pointless in three postseason games. He was injured late in the regular season in what looked like a serious injury. Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders fell on him and his right leg bent in such a way that a broken fibula seemed likely. Jeannot was back in the lineup shortly after, but is apparently dealing with something nagging as he will miss a potential elimination contest.
- While Jeannot is out of the lineup, the Lightning did get some good news as Michael Eyssimont will return to the ice according to Mark Masters of TSN. Eyssimont was also acquired at the trade deadline this season and scored one goal and two points in 15 regular season games with the Lightning. He was injured in Game 1 of the postseason when Jake McCabe hit him in open ice but made a little head contact.
- Out west, the Los Angeles Kings may get some reinforcements to their lineup during the three days off between Game 5 and 6 in their series with the Edmonton Oilers. Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reports Blake Lizotte has not played since Game 2 due to a lower-body injury. Lizotte practiced Thursday in a regular white jersey, signalling he is healthy and ready to return to the lineup. He is a key penalty killer on the Kings which is much needed against the dangerous power play of the Oilers, though there is no official confirmation that he will play in Game 6 just yet.
Roman Schmidt Assigned To Syracuse Crunch
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned one of their prospects, per a team release. Roman Schmidt saw his OHL season end when the Kitchener Rangers were eliminated from the postseason by the London Knights, but his season is not over yet as Schmidt will join the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. The Lightning’s third round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft scored 28 points in 64 games and provided a big, physical, defensive presence for the Rangers using his 6-foot-5 inch and 216 pound body to win battles and protect his crease. The Crunch currently lead their Best-of-5 Division Semifinal series with the Rochester Americans 2-0.
Erik Cernak Out For Game Five
- Returning back from a three-game suspension, Michael Bunting will be available for the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night as they look to eliminate the three-time defending Eastern Conference Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Playing very well in his absence, Mark Masters of TSN reports that there is potential for Bunting to not make his way into the lineup for Game Five. Masters relays on a message from the Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe, who states that no decision has been made about Bunting’s return to the lineup but did confirm that Matthew Knies was not coming out of the lineup for Bunting.
- On the receiving end of Bunting’s suspension-worthy hit, Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak will not return for Game Five (Tweet Link). Only playing just over nine minutes in Game One, the Lightning have been without one of their best defensive defensemen for the remainder of the series up to this point. Since Cernak’s exit from Tampa Bay’s lineup, the Lightning have been unable to hold Toronto to less than four goals a game.
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Brayden Point Likely To Play In Game 4
Tampa Bay Lightning fans can breathe a sigh of relief as head coach Jon Cooper has indicated that Brayden Point may suit up for tonight’s pivotal Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a tweet Monday, David Alter of The Hockey News reported Cooper stated Point “should be in tonight” after he was shaken up from a collision with Maple Leafs defender Morgan Rielly in the third period of Saturday’s overtime loss.
While Cooper did note that Point’s status was still a game-time decision, his optimistic tone suggests the talented forward may be able to take the ice tonight. Point did return to Game 3 despite looking extremely uncomfortable immediately after the collision, skating 12 shifts and not showing any signs of decreased usage.
Injuries have affected Tampa significantly in this series, with a pair of key defenders, Victor Hedman and Erik Černák, both missing games. For a Lightning team not as deep as they’ve been in past seasons, it’s been a tough battle to overcome, although they outplayed Toronto for most of Game 3 despite the loss.
Point is one of three Lightning skaters with multiple goals thus far in the series, and they’ll rely on his historically clutch offense to help tie the series if he can play tonight. The 27-year-old has 40 goals and 81 points in 79 career playoff games for Tampa.
Updates On Brayden Point, Erik Cernak
Despite slamming his head into the boards in a scary-looking play in last night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning star Brayden Point returned to the ice and finished the game. Today, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper issued an update on his 50-goal scorer, via the Tampa Bay Times’ Eduardo Encina, stating that he is being cautious with Point’s status and hopes that he’ll be available for the next game in the series.
Any extended absence from Point would be a significant blow to the Lightning’s hopes of defeating the Maple Leafs in this series. Point is arguably the offensive engine of the Lightning since he scored 51 goals and 95 points in the regular season and firmly established himself as an upper-echelon first-line center. Should he not be available for the all-important fourth game of this series,it’s possible that his absence will be a setback the Lightning can’t overcome.
Victor Hedman Returns For Game 3
- Another star defenseman who is dealing with injury is Victor Hedman. Fortunately, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Tampa Bay Lightning defender returns to the lineup for Game 3. Hedman missed Game 2 and the team missed his presence as they fell 7-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs to even the series at 1-1. Hedman played just 6:35 in Game 1 before leaving with injury at the start of the second period.
Lightning Notes: Hedman, Cernak, Eyssimont, Cirelli
Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is classified as a game-time decision for tonight’s third game against Toronto, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters including Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. The veteran, who took part in line rushes with Nick Perbix in the morning skate, will take the pregame skate, a step he was unable to do in Thursday’s second game. While his production was down sharply this season, he still managed 49 points in 76 games while logging nearly 24 minutes a night and he would certainly be a significant boost to a back end that struggled considerably on Thursday night.
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- Encina also notes that blueliner Erik Cernak isn’t expected to return tonight. He was injured in the opening game of the series after taking a hit to the head from Michael Bunting, a play that earned the winger a three-game suspension. Cernak did not take part in the morning skate. The 25-year-old averaged nearly three hits per game this season while chipping in with 14 points in 70 games. Notably, Cernak also led all Lightning blueliners in shorthanded playing time per game.
- While they won’t get Cernak back, Encina relays that the Lightning will have the option of putting forward Mikey Eyssimont back in the lineup. The 25-year-old suffered a head injury in the series opener. Eyssimont has been a regular most nights on Tampa Bay’s fourth line but with Tanner Jeannot returning on Thursday, it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be suiting up even after being cleared to return.
- TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie mentions (Twitter link) that center Anthony Cirelli took part in the morning skate today, a sign that he should be able to suit up tonight. He took a hit from Auston Matthews late in the third in Game Two but it appears it won’t keep him out of action.
Philippe Myers And Alex Barre-Boulet Recalled
- While they weren’t in uniform tonight, the Lightning have recalled defenseman Philippe Myers and winger Alex Barre-Boulet from AHL Syracuse, relays Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). The pair were listed on the roster report as healthy scratches. With Syracuse not playing in the first round of the playoffs in the minors, it’s possible that the two players will stay up with Tampa Bay for a few days. Myers played in 11 games this season with the Lightning while Barre-Boulet suited up just once.