{"id":41471,"date":"2019-02-14T14:50:29","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T19:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=41471"},"modified":"2019-02-15T22:42:15","modified_gmt":"2019-02-16T03:42:15","slug":"erik-cernak-unexpectedly-realiable-for-tampa-bay-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/02\/14\/erik-cernak-unexpectedly-realiable-for-tampa-bay-lightning\/","title":{"rendered":"Erik Cernak Unexpectedly Reliable For Tampa Bay Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0are a very difficult team to stop this season. If you take a look at their lineup, you will find it very improbable to discover one weak spot. However, there is one surprising player, who is unexpectedly\u00a0reliable for the Lightning. That would be rookie defenceman, Erik Cernak<\/a><\/strong>. Not many people predicted\u00a0Cernak to be such a reliable blueliner, including Head Coach Jon Cooper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Erik Cernak<\/a> and his Unexpected Way to the NHL Powerhouse<\/h2>\n

Erik Cernak was selected as 43rd choice overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings<\/a><\/strong>. The young defenceman never really received an opportunity with the Kings. Tampa Bay acquired him last season in a trade that included goaltender Peter Budaj<\/a> heading back to Los Angeles. It seemed that Cernak was not that important \u2014 that he was just a small part of a deal and didn’t\u00a0create much of havoc.<\/p>\n

But General Manager Steve Yzerman<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0struck gold yet again. Fans can easily argue that playing on such a roster that Tampa Bay currently possesses\u00a0is rather smooth. But it’s completely\u00a0the opposite. If you want to be good enough to play for an NHL powerhouse, like the Tampa Bay Lightning, you have to be extraordinarily\u00a0good. The young defenceman unexpectedly\u00a0became a regular on a blue line of the best team in the hockey.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay currently owns 88 points and first in the NHL standings. That means they have a 13-point advantage in a race for Presidents’ Trophy. Their numbers are completely insane. Nevertheless, the Bolts don’t have the best defence in the league. They are actually the fifth best on that list, but it\u00b4s nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n

Cernak Providing Much-needed Help for Tampa Bay\u00b4s Defence<\/h3>\n

Victor Hedman<\/a>, Anton Stralman<\/a>, Mikhail Sergachev<\/a>, Ryan McDonagh<\/a>, Braydon Coburn<\/a>, and Dan Girardi<\/a>. Not counting Sergachev, all of those other defensive pieces are nothing but massively experienced. Tampa Bay has put together a great defensive core to chase the Stanley Cup in the spring. And yet, they found a way how to upgrade it. Surprisingly, with inserting a rookie into that defensive lineup.<\/p>\n

“When we first saw him in Training Camp, I was thinking like he is not ready yet. We were okay with sending him down to the AHL,” said Head Coach Jon Cooper in December. “But when we called him up from the minors, we were left shocked how much Cernak has improved. He is overcoming himself game after another and that\u00b4s what I like,” concluded Cooper his description of Erik Cernak.<\/p>\n

Cernak was called up back in November. His NHL debut was on November 13, when the Lightning played against the Sabres<\/a>. The words Cooper said, as mentioned above, were after Cernak played his 16th game back in December Cernak was called up to provide depth when\u00a0Anton Stralman<\/a> went down injured in November. Cernak has taken advantage of his opportunity and is still with Tampa even though Stralman is back.<\/p>\n

First NHL Goal at Special Place<\/h3>\n

Cernak scored his first NHL goal at a very iconic place – at Madison Square Garden. And also against very iconic goalie – Henrik Lundqvist<\/a>. Since he scored his first NHL goal at the start of February versus the Rangers<\/a>, Cernak added another one against the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>.<\/p>\n