Down 2-0 in their opening-round series to Florida, the Lightning will be without one of their top wingers for Saturday’s game as the league announced late Friday that Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension for his hit on Aleksander Barkov on Thursday.
The incident occurred just before the midway mark of the third period with Hagel receiving a major penalty for interference on the play but not a game misconduct. Barkov left the game and did not return; head coach Paul Maurice revealed Friday that the center hasn’t been ruled out or in for tonight’s contest.
In the video explaining the decision, the Department of Player Safety noted that supplemental discipline was warranted because Barkov was never in possession of the puck and therefore was not eligible to be checked. After the puck was well past the players, Hagel delivered “a high, hard body check that makes some head contact.”
Hagel made the case that he approached the play as if Barkov would eventually play the puck as it came to him, but the ruling stated that “the onus is on Hagel to ensure that the player he is hitting is eligible to be checked” and that he intentionally delivered “an extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent with sufficient force.”
This is Hagel’s first career suspension in 375 regular-season and 36 playoff games. However, it’s not his first supplemental discipline for a playoff incident against the Panthers as he was fined for boarding Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen back in May 2022.
One game is a joke, Barkov never had the puck. Was message does this send about headhunting?
It wasn’t head hunting. Deal in logic and facts
Headhunting or not he still intentionally drilled someone (conveniently the other team’s best player) who never touched the puck. Whatever term you want to use to define it, it was still a dirty hit.
Facts you Homer
Facts u change word and definitions. Like debating a teen age girl. You probably have a kachick jersey
@Kucherov, here’s a definition for you.
misogynist:
a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.
You are a woke weak kitty kat. Calling someone a chick who exhibits female characteristics is not anti women. Nice try
Hopefully Barkov plays again this series. First game next season I’d have someone fight Hagel every time he’s on the ice.
Tampa about to go down 3-0
Couldn’t be more wrong. Florida got whooped & acted like sore losers in the end (typical of them). Tkachuk should be getting 1 game suspension for his exceedingly late dirty hit with intention to harm Guentzel. Hagel’s hit was not anywhere near as bad. Florida is a scumbag team through & through as is their dirtbag fans.
Wrong again. On a positive note, you are consistent,
@Kesler – No you little troll, I’m surely right but you’re too damn dense to comprehend such a realization. You’ve consistently proven not to be the brightest bulb. You are consistent, however, at being an ignorantly conceded buffoon. It’s no fail.
I didn’t think the hit was that terrible but it really sucks if Barkov is injured and misses time. Never like seeing that.
I think that’s the correct amount. Had there been more time left in the game, I’d even argue the misconduct penalty would have been sufficient. Garbage hit nonetheless, he’ll have to answer for that in game 4.
Florida better hope they win today and barkov comes back. Or it’s over
Lol.
Today cernak flattens tkuchick. Panthers fold up. The irony
not even close to reality bruh
The league was going to suspend Hagel no matter what he said (that was obvious). Barkov isn’t even hurt as he’s already been reported according to SportsNet to play in game 3 (what a surprise…not!). Barkov just sold the hit, nothing more. What a complete sham. Panthers will lie, cheat, & steal anyway they can. If Tampa’s puck luck would start falling for them, this series sure as hell wouldn’t be 2-0, it would be 1-1. Tampa had ample opportunities to score numerous times in Game 2, the puck just isn’t going through at this point.
Nursing on that Lightning nut again!
Nope. You keep nutting for Tkachuk, soy boy.
Why does the league pick on the poor Lightning? Boo hoo! :D
The league isn’t picking on the Lightning. It’s just favoring the scumbag Panthers (who have to lie, cheat & steal to win) as they acted like sore losers as usual when they lose as they got whooped. Tkachuk should be without question getting a suspension for his really late dirty hit that was quite harmful on Guentzel. Hagel’s hit wasn’t intentional nor that late but Tkachuk sure was as he’s a punk a$$ as Guentzel was beating them good. The Panthers are just punks.
If only there was a baby crying emoji I could use here……
I’m not the one doing the crying. Just stating the facts.
Kachick belongs in the NBA. Like in 4 nations he blew his nut in the first game and now is a distraction to his team
Panthers fans. Run to Walgreens and go grab a box of tissues..as I said before. Lightning win next 3
Panthers have a washed up marchand. A front runner in Jones. A cheater in eckblad and an NBA jackass in kachick. Barkov is Dinges up. Reinhart is tired…as the lightning start shooting more…Bob will give up some goals
Hey genius there is a T in Tkachuk.
Your assuming that matters to me. That guy does not respect the game. He isa clown. Gets no respect back.
You don’t feel like a clown posting this nonsense?
@ Kucherov is a fat beer belly blocking his view of his weak impotent Johnson so no he has no self respect
The only thing blocking my view is your mom’s head
F u
Ironic coming from you since your mom is a common street ho
You are over your head here buddy.
That is your comeback? LOL…
I missed the irony….