Lightning's Hedman game-time decision, Cernak out for Game 2

Victor Hedman. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Lightning's Victor Hedman a game-time decision for Game 2; Erik Cernak out

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 4/19/23

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without defenseman Erik Cernak for Game 2 of their quarterfinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs — and the status of 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Victor Hedman is uncertain.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper addressed the media on Wednesday and provided updates on all of his team’s injured players. He indicated that both Cernak and Mikey Eyssimont will miss Thursday’s Game 2 after making early exits from Game 1.

Although Jake McCabe was not penalized for his heavy hit that injured Eyssimont on Tuesday, Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting is slated to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head and interference on Cernak.

Toronto’s Michael Bunting will have a hearing on Wednesday for an Illegal Check to the Head / Interference against Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 19, 2023

Cernak, 25, recorded 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) and averaged 19:14 in 70 games with the Lightning during the 2022–23 regular season. The Slovak defender was a fixture on Tampa’s Stanley Cup teams in 2020 and 2021.

Cooper added that Hedman will be a game-time decision on Thursday after logging just 6:35 in Tampa’s 7–3 Game 1 win over the Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Swede remains Tampa’s top defenseman and regularly plays as many as 25 minutes per game.

Also on the injury front, Cooper hinted at the possibility of winger Tanner Jeannot returning to the Lightning lineup in time for Game 2. Jeannot has been out with an upper-body injury since April 6.

“Feeling really good,” Jeannot said in a media availability on Wednesday. “Just gotta wait and see, I guess, but everything’s feeling really well and the trainers did a great job and I’m feeling good on the ice.”

The Lightning enjoy a 1–0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series against the Maple Leafs, with Game 2 slated to take place at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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