Lightning Round: Erik Cernak won’t return until after Christmas

Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty ImagesThe Tampa Bay Lightning have been hit by injuries quiet seriously in the recent weeks and recent news didn’t bring much relief either as Jon Cooper announced yesterday that Erik Cernak won’t return until after Christmas and is in the week-to-week category

Cooper said Erik Cernak is now week-to-week and isn’t going to play until after Christmas. #Bolts

— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) December 10, 2021 The Slovak defenceman hasn’t played since the last Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins after he blocked a shot with his right foot. Cernak was initially expected to return before the end of the current road trip, but further evaluation ruled out that…