Lightning update Cernak, Kucherov, Point, and Smith injuries

With concerns about Brayden Point’s injury fresh in everyone’s minds, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper provided updates for the multiple Lightning players currently recovering from injuries after the team’s morning skate on Tuesday.

Brayden Point

Cooper did not have an update for Point at the time, but the team announced later in the day that Point is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Erik Cernak

Cernak should be the first injured player to return to the team. He has missed the past six games since blocking a shot from Andrei Svechnikov with his arm/wrist in the November 9 meeting against the Carolina Hurricanes. If he does not make it back on the ice for Friday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, his next opportunity will be on Sunday when the Lightning travel to face the Minnesota Wild.

Gemel Smith

Smith has been out since the preseason, but it looks like the team will not have to wait much longer for his return. The Lightning only have twelve healthy forwards on the roster, so the return of the reliable depth forward would be a welcomed addition to the team while Kucherov and Point remain out.

Nikita Kucherov

The Lightning announced at the end of October that Kucherov would miss 8-10 weeks. This update should not change the original timeline given that Kucherov was expected back around the beginning of 2022 at the earliest.