Sabres’ Toughness Still A Problem
S.O.S! These “Same Old Sabres” are still stinking up the joint. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin fell backwards to the ice, spinning on his knees, clutching his face with both…
Erik Cernak
NHL Suspends Lightning Cernak 2 Games for Elbowing Dahlin
NEW YORK — The NHL has suspended Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak for two games for elbowing Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin in the face. Cernak wasn’t penalized for…
Countdown to Puck Drop – Day 81 – Cernak’s Importance to the Lightning
Introducing The Hockey Writers’ Countdown to Puck Drop series. From now until the puck drops on the 2019-20 NHL’s regular season on Oct. 2 when the Toronto Maple Leafs host…
Lightning Rookies Making an Immediate Impact
A major focus of former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman was to keep a constant flow of young, high-talent players available in the AHL so they could compete…
Lightning Found a Winner in Erik Cernak
When the Tampa Bay Lightning traded goaltender Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings at the 2017 trade deadline for Peter Budaj and defensive prospect Erik Cernak, it was hard not…
Lightning Prospect Pool Gems
While preseason hockey is often maligned, it does present a rare opportunity for teams to evaluate everyone at once. From franchise centermen to new draft picks, ice time is plentiful…
European Defenseman Reaches the Hockey Bar
“He’s a pretty sharp-dressed guy”, Kris Knoblauch says with a chuckle. Knoblauch is the Head Coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Erie Otters and he’s referring to defenseman Erik…
Someone Clinched A Playoff Spot Friday
January usually isn’t the time we talk about teams clinching playoff births. One team decided to make it a thing on Friday night. It just goes to show you how…
2016 WJC: Team Slovakia Preview
After a few years of bad results and being on the verge of relegation, Team Slovakia had a couple of good years at the WJC, culminating in a bronze medal…
Sizing up the Future of the Kings Defense
The best way to build a championship contending team is from the back out. Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi has made no reservations in choosing top defensive prospects in the…
Kings Find NHL Careers in the Second Round
The second round of the draft has been fruitful the Los Angeles Kings ever since Dean Lombardi and his scouting staff have taken over. Of the 11 second-round selections Lombardi…
Three Supersized Slovakian Prospects
Slovakian hockey in North America is chiefly defined by speed and points. Peter Stastny’s 1.268 points per game is good for ninth all-time in the NHL. Marian Hossa needs 14 goals…