Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak out vs. Blue Jackets

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be down a couple of key pieces for Thursday’s road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Speaking before Thursday’s game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper revealed that forward Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Erik Cernak will not play against the Blue Jackets.

Cirelli, 29, is out with an undisclosed injury, and it’s unclear how or when he picked up the injury. The Etobicoke, Ontario native has played all 18 of Tampa Bay’s games coming into Thursday, putting up five goals and nine assists for 14 points.

Selected by the Lightning in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Cirelli is in his ninth full-time NHL season, having won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. He’s long been one of the most reliable defensive centers in the league, and is now in the fourth season of an eight-year, $50 million contract.

Cernak, 29, is considered day-to-day. While Tampa Bay has not specified his injury, he likely suffered it during Wednesday’s 8-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres when he was checked awkwardly into the curved glass near the Lightning bench by Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn.

Cernak was able to leave the ice under his own power, and did not return to the game.

The Slovakian national has no goals and seven assists in 17 games played this season, while averaging just over 18 minutes of ice time.

Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Cernak was acquired by Tampa Bay in February of 2017 in the deal that sent goaltender Ben Bishop to Los Angeles. He is now in the fourth season of an eight-year, $41.6 million contract.

Following Thursday’s game in Columbus, the Lightning will begin a six-game homestand against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.