Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak exits vs. Columbus Blue Jackets after big hit

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that defenceman Erik Cernak will not return to Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to injury.

Late in the first period, Cernak skated back behind the Lightning net to retrieve the puck and took a hit from Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier on the numbers that sent him face first into the glass.

Cernak went down to the ice and was down for an extended period. He eventually skated off under his own power and went to the dressing room.

He did not return for the second period before he was ruled out for the night.

Injury Update: Erik Cernak will not return to tonight’s game.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 25, 2026

Coming into tonight’s game, Cernak has five assists in 30 games this season while averaging 19:01 of ice time.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning, Cernak was named to Team Slovakia for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan.