Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak scratched vs Islanders after missing team meeting

According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman the Tampa Bay Lightning scratched defenseman Erik Cernak ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Islanders for missing a team meeting which is a violation of the team’s code of conduct.

The 26-year-old has tallied one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 61 games this season. Cernak leads all Bolts’ defensemen and is second among skaters with 151 hits and second in blocked shots with 94. He missed a handful of games earlier this year after suffering an upper-body injury.

Cernak has played a pivotal role in helping the Bolts win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. The Kosice, Slovakia product is in the first year of an eight-year, $41.6 million contract; the contract has an average annual value (AAV) of $5.2 million and runs through 2030-31. He has a no-trade clause from 2024-25 until 2026-27 and then a modified no-trade clause for the remainder of the contract. 

The two-time Stanley Cup champ and 2021 Slovakian Player of the Year has appeared in 356 games with the Bolts, registering 19 goals, and 67 assists for 86 points. Cernak recently hit the 1000-hit threshold and has racked up 489 blocked shots.

Tampa Bay currently sits first in the Eastern Conference Wild Card spot with a 40-25-7 record and 87 points through 72 games. Following tonight’s game against the Islanders the Lightning will have just nine games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season. They comfortably sit six points ahead of the Washington Capitals. The Lightning are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings on April 1 and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 3.