Late in a tied game with the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak went to check Sabres captain Kyle Okposo along the blue line. He succeeded in preventing the zone entry, mainly because he elbowed the veteran forward in the jaw.
Props for Brian Engblom’s evolving feelings about the hit from didn’t get the elbow up —> sure it was an elbow, but the elbow was tucked in —> okay, the elbow came up.
While there was no call on the play, Cernak did meet with the league’s Department of Player Safety on Friday.