TAMPA, Fla. — In what figured to be a nasty series between two bitter rivals, the first suspension has arrived.
And for a team already in trouble, it won’t help matters.
Tampa Bay Lightning standout Brandon Hagel has been suspended one game for his blind-side hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Thursday night’s Game 2.
Hagel gets a five minute major for interference on Barkov — penalty upheld after review pic.twitter.com/6ngc3AdCZo
— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 25, 2025
Hagel doesn’t have a point through two games against Florida and is a minus-4, but make no mistake, he is one of the more important Lightning players. He amassed career-highs with 35 goals and 90 points this season and played a prominent role for Team Canada in its 4 Nations Face-Off victory against the United States.
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The Lightning, notably coach Jon Cooper, appeared miffed when Hagel was assessed a five-minute major penalty following a review by officials on Thursday. Cooper said after the game that he was surprised by the five-minute ruling.
Before today, Hagel had never been suspended by the NHL.
“These are questions that would get me in trouble,” Cooper said Friday when asked about a potential suspension for Hagel. “I will let it lie with the powers that be.”
The Lightning, down 2-0 in the series and their backs against the wall, travel to South Florida on Friday and will take on the Panthers in Game 3 at 1 p.m. Saturday.
It’s unknown whether Barkov, arguably the most important of the Panthers, will be available. One of the great two-way players of this generation, Barkov has registered three assists in the first two games of this series and has only been on the ice for one goal against. He has been a matchup nightmare in the postseason in each of the past three springs.
Florida coach Paul Maurice, speaking at the Panthers’ practice facility on Friday afternoon, said Barkov hasn’t been ruled out for Game 3 but also hasn’t yet been cleared. The Florida captain remained on the ice for about a minute following the hit, looking visibly woozy. He then departed directly for the Panthers dressing room and did not return, walking very slowly after leaving the ice.
Barkov had 20 goals and 71 points in 67 games this season.
In his postseason career, Barkov has 19 goals and 62 points in 71 games. He was a force in Florida’s championship run last spring, putting up 22 points in 24 games while routinely being assigned to defend the opposition’s top line.
While the Panthers are in control and have the momentum in this series, losing Barkov for any period of time would naturally be a concern.
While it’s unknown if Barkov will return for Saturday’s tilt, the struggling Lightning know they will be without a standout.
(Photo of Aleksander Barkov: Mike Carlson / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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