Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak will be out of the lineup Thursday for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs while star defenceman Victor Hedman will be a game-time decision, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters.
Cernak left Tuesday's contest after an illegal check to the head from Toronto's Michael Bunting that saw the Maple Leafs forward ejected from the game. Bunting will have a hearing for the hit on Wednesday, the NHL department of player safety announced.
Meanwhile, Hedman missed most of Game 1 with an undisclosed injury.
The 32-year-old Swede was absent from the Lightning's bench to begin the second period and after briefly making a return, he headed back to the locker room. He did not return to the game.
After the game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper did not have much of an update on his status.
"It's way too early to tell," Cooper told reporters. "This is one of those, 'Let's wake up tomorrow and see what's going on.'"
The Lightning did receive some good news on Wednesday as forward Tanner Jeannot returned to practice and took line rushes with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Corey Perry.
Jeannot has been out of the lineup since April 5 when he got tangled up with Islanders defenceman Scott Mayfield and fell awkwardly on his right leg.
As far as whether or not Jeannot would play?
"Potentially, yes," Cooper said.
Mikey Eyssimont and Ian Cole were also not at practice on Wednesday. Cole is expected to play Thursday, while Eyssimont will be out.
Game 2 is Thursday night on Sportsnet and SN NOW at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
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