Cernak stuffed the stat sheet with a goal, two assists, four shots, three blocks and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak seemed to be headed for a nondescript performance inside nine minutes to go, but he proceeded to score his fifth goal of the season before assisting on empty-netters by Ross Colton and Mikhail Sergachev. The 23-year-old blueliner set a new career high of 18 points with this performance, and he sits exactly at the five-goal mark for a third consecutive season to open his career.

Cernak scored a goal, dished an assist, logged four hits and added a fighting major in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Blackhawks.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak pulled off the Gordie Howe hat trick Tuesday. He opened the scoring 28 seconds into the game. In the second period, Cernak scrapped with Connor Murphy after the former's hit left Blackhawks blueliner Adam Boqvist with a broken wrist. Cernak then had an assist on Alex Killorn's tally in the final minute of the contest. The productive outing put Cernak at 15 points, 71 shots on net, 81 hits, 41 blocked shots, 36 PIM and a plus-9 rating in 39 outings.

Cernak scored a goal on five shots and dished out four hits in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Florida.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak potted his third goal of the season with 45 seconds left in the second period, faking a slapper above the right circle before moving in closer and beating Sergei Bobrovsky with a wrister from the dot. The goal, Cernak's second in the last four games, brought the Lighting to within 4-2. The 23-year-old has provided another sound all-around season for Tampa Bay, producing 13 points and 25 PIM with a plus-13 rating in 34 games.

Cernak recorded an assist, two shots on goal and two PIM in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak helped out on a Yanni Gourde goal in the third period. The 23-year-old Cernak has a goal and an assist in three games since he returned from a lower-body injury. The Slovak is up to 12 points in 32 outings this season -- it took him 67 contests to reach that mark last year. He's added 59 shots on net, 61 hits, 36 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating in 2020-21 as a decent two-way defenseman.

Cernak scored a goal on two shots and had one hit Saturday in a 3-0 win over the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak's shot from the high slot in the second period banked in off Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis, giving the Lightning a 2-0 lead. It was Cernak's second goal of the year and first since March 9. The 23-year-old has produced 11 points and a plus-14 rating in 31 games this season.

Cernak (lower body) will play in Thursday's game versus the Blue Jackets, Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak will return to the lineup after missing the last seven games, bumping Luke Schenn out of the rotation in the process. The 23-year-old Cernak provided 10 points and 55 shots through 29 games before his injury.

Coach Jon Cooper was hoping Cernak (lower body) would be further along in his recovery, but the 23-year-old blueliner is still "steps back," Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak has already missed three games with his lower-body issue and appears to be poised to miss at least a few more. Andreas Borgman will likely continue to hold onto a spot in Tampa Bay's bottom four until Cernak is ready to return.

According to coach Jon Cooper, Cernak (lower body) is still at least a game or two away from returning, Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak should be ready to return soon, but he'll miss a third straight game Tuesday against the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old blueliner has picked up 10 points while posting a plus-14 rating in 29 contests this season.

Cernak (lower body) won't play Saturday against Carolina, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 23-year-old blueliner will miss a second straight contest, and coach Jon Cooper isn't sure when Cernak will be ready to return. Luke Schenn should hold onto a spot in Tampa Bay's lineup until Cernak is given the green light.

Cernak (lower body) won't play in Thursday's game versus the Stars, Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cernak will miss his fourth game of the season. The 23-year-old has accrued 10 points, 57 hits and 35 blocked shots through 29 games. Luke Schenn likely will draw into the lineup in Cernak's place.