NHL Department of Player Safety hands Lightning's Erik Cernak multi-game suspension

Following a hearing, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced that Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak has been suspended two games for elbowing Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo.

Faux tough guy Erik Cernak deliberately targeted the head of @bookerT2116 who has suffered from a litany of well documented concussion issues in his illustrious NHL career. Cernak is gutless. No penalty called on the ice. NHL typical. @NHLPlayerSafety pic.twitter.com/7dGILDF6TC— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) February 24, 2023

Friday's announcement marks the second time in Cernak's career that he's been suspended, after he was handed a two-game ban back in 2019 for elbowing Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin.

Cernak will miss Tampa Bay's upcoming games against Detroit on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. He'll be eligible to return to the lineup on Tuesday, February 28th against Florida.

Tampa Bay's Erik Cernak has been suspended for two games for Elbowing Buffalo's Kyle Okposo. https://t.co/gMrGesLnGW— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 24, 2023

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