As the highly anticipated playoff matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens heats up, two key players are about to put their friendship to the test on the ice. Defenseman Erik Cernak, who made a surprise trade to the Lightning last season, will face off against his former teammate, forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who was drafted by the Canadiens in 2022. The two players have spoken highly of each other in the past, but now they'll be on opposite sides of the rink as their teams clash in the first round of the NHL playoffs. With the Lightning looking to defend their Stanley Cup title and the Canadiens seeking to upset their opponents, this series promises to be an intense and closely watched matchup.
Cernak, Slafkovsky put friendship aside for 1st Round series between Lightning, Canadiens NHL.com
