Lightning winger Brandon Hagel will have a player safety hearing today for his major interference penalty against Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in last night’s loss, the league announced.
Officials upheld the major for Hagel after reviewing the play, which occurred midway through the third period of Tampa’s eventual 2-0 loss in Game 2. While Hagel was forechecking on Barkov as the puck got dumped into the Tampa zone, he delivered a huge check as the two neared the corner. While there wasn’t a ton of head contact and the mechanics of the hit appeared rather clean, there was one problem – Barkov never had nor came close to having possession of the puck, resulting in a five-minute power play for the Cats (video via Sportsnet). Barkov didn’t return to the game after the collision, and the team has yet to issue an update on his status for Game 3 in Sunrise on Saturday.
Generally, supplemental discipline for interference doesn’t result in particularly long suspensions. That should hold true, especially considering the time of year, but Barkov leaving the game doesn’t bode well for Hagel’s case to walk away with just a fine. After scoring a career-high 35 goals in the regular season and setting the all-time record for goals in a season without a power-play marker, Hagel has no points and a minus-four rating through two games against Florida.
The 26-year-old isn’t the only one struggling to produce. Only Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point have scored for the Bolts thus far, and notable secondary names like Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul have yet to record a point. Still, potentially missing him for Game 3 as the series shifts to South Florida will certainly make life harder for the higher-seeded Lightning as they try to avoid going down 3-0 in the series against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Saw this, just a cheap , cheap shot , especially when Barkov didn’t even have the puck. This punk just made himself a moving target the rest of the series . The picture of him sitting in the penalty box showed him smiling, like he got away with something . However, he is good at talking crap . Good luck chump
Cheap shot?!? It was a clean hit! Even the announcers said it was a clean hit. There should be no suspension at all. If Hagel is suspended for that, that’s utter B.S.
The Florida Panthers get away with cheap shots repeatedly & the one that should be looked into is the low-life arrogant scumbag Matthew Tkachuk who personally threatened Nikita Kucherov as even the color commentator Brian Enblom heard it (he was standing between the benches). Tkachuk has done other things in this series that the refs & the league have just passed over. The league is showing its favoritism, again.
favoritism towards one Fla. team over another? Yeah, ok…
Your just overly emotional because your team was only able to generate a total of 2 goals over 2 home game. Weak! Btw, Kucharov deserves every cheap shot he receives.
@JanErixon – Dude, Florida Panthers got favoritism throughout the playoffs last year as the refs saved their a$$es repeatedly. It’s the primary reason they won the Cup.
I am a NYR fan and even I’m not going to claim that, not that I care for the Panthers in any way whatsoever.
@FearTheWilson – Kucharov deserves every cheap shot he receives? Why? Because he typically embarrasses teams? Give me a break. You don’t threaten a player like that POS Tkachuk did. Personal threats of harming someone on or off the ice is a call for legal action.
Overly emotional? Not at all. Florida has been a dirt bag for a few years & gets away with a lot of dirty hits. If Florida did a hit like Hagel did, there would be no action taken. No question about it. As for the series, it not over either. Game 1 was a fluky game & Game 2 was one of those games the puck just wasn’t fallen in (it happens). Also get your facts right, Tampa has scored more then 2 goals in the series.
Correction: The part about the facts on the goals at the end, I meant to delete but the stupid site glitched on me & eliminated my capability to edit my post smh.
Of course the Lightning announcers said it was a clean hit. They might be biased don’t you think? The Lightning were allowed to get away with throwing punches after every whistle without being called for a single penalty. That punk Hagel should be suspended for however many games that Barkov is out plus one game. He is lucky Tkachuk didn’t kick his ass like he did at Four Nations. And finally Tkachuk didn’t threaten Kucherov. He challenged him and of course that little coward ran away sulking like he always does.
Game 1: Panthers 6 Lightning 2.
Game 2: Panthers 2 Lightning 0
2+0=2. So no the Lightning have not scored more than 2 goals this series.
Kucherov is still going to have to answer for his attempted injury of Tkachuk by blatantly kneeing him back in December. Kucherov is a coward. Feel the thumper needs to stop drinking the Kool-Aid
@Our cup runneth over – Actually, the announcers Dave & Brian are anything but biased believe it or not. They call it pretty down the middle as this isn’t ESPN. Brian is widely respected color commentator throughout the league & a former player.
Throwing punches after every whistle? What are you smoking? Florida is doing the punches after every whistle not Tampa. Florida is the dirtiest team in the league. Tkachuk was repeatedly hitting Cirelli with his stick while the refs were getting in between them. Also, Tkachuk didn’t win the fight in the 4 Nations against Hagel. Tkachuk went down first as that punk a$$ lost.
You’re 100% wrong on Tkachuk challenging Kucherov. Brian flat out said it was a legit threat. It wasn’t a challenge. Tkachuk is nothing more than a thug.
@Our cup runneth over – Yes, I know Tampa has not scored more than 2 goals, genius. Hence, why I left a post about the correction. Can you not comprehend the correlation? I guess not.
@Our cup runneth over – Tkachuk wasn’t injured you moron. He acted hurt like the low life scum he is, just to get Kucherov thrown out because Kuch scored on their butts singlehandedly less in a minute into the game. Tkachuk came back into that game a minute later. He wasn’t hurt at all. I think you need to stop blowing on Tkachuk.
Good, hard, clean hit. Shoulder on shoulder, maybe a dangerous spot on the ice with the distance from the boards. Definitely interference but nothing else. What team isn’t going to Play hard against the other teams best players? I would even argue that it might’ve been hard for hagel to tell from his angle if Barkov touched the puck or not (weak but arguable). I would put it in the category of “he might have touched it and so I’m going to take this great chance to lay a big hit” category and not the, “he’s not looking so I’m going to try to injure him and get him out of the game” category. The trouble is, he didn’t touch the puck, barkov didn’t really see him, and now he’s potentially hurt. Still don’t think it was malicious and shouldn’t be a suspension. If he wasn’t hurt on the play it would’ve only been two minutes. I would also argue if it was Rodrigues or luostarienen or someone like that it would’ve only been two minutes regardless.
You are the most biased, dumb person on this website
Actually have Florida in my playoff pool but thanks for your thoughtful insight.
With you here.
Barkov is one of my favorite players in the league, and I have never cared for hagel. But still don’t think this was more than 2 on a lesser name / Barkov didn’t get hurt.
You are babbling aimlessly again. Please don’t stop.
I live in Central Florida so I am subjected to hearing your announcers. No I do not believe they are unbiased. Like almost all home announcers they tend to see every play through a head team shaded glasses. Engblblum especially goes on and on about how the Lightning players are so much better than their opponents. Sure doesn’t like it in this series though .
No I felt like you needed help with the math
Funny how you immediately go to a homophobic slur .
So it would be ok if Tkachuk kneed Kucherov or Hagel in game 3? You wouldn’t be crying for a suspension if they weren’t hurt. I think your constant nursing at Kucherov’s junk says otherwise
Yeah OK. Tkachuk is a big front runner. What is he waiting for. They played them 4 or 5 times since…where is the retribution?
All I know is you have Seth Jones…he will be a big factor yet in this series. And not a good one for Florida.
I am a lighting fan and Engblom and the other guy are brutal. Give me Espo and the radio guy all day long.
@Kesler is Wilf – I’m not talking aimlessly moron. But I guess you have a lack of comprehension apparently. Seriously, are you stalking me or something here because it’s getting weird with you.
@Our cup runneth over – HAHA! You wouldn’t know if it was unbiased or not since you’re grossly biased yourself. It’s the equivalent of the cat calling the kettle black. Seriously, you come off like a total troll.
Since CrybabyThunder blocked me, I’ll just leave this here: obvious cheap shot. Targeted the other team’s best player and deliberately drilled him with no puck in sight. Agreed: Retaliation likely coming at Kucharov.
You read too many comic books. Retaliation on Kucharaov? Cant hit what you can’t catch.
@Our cup runneth over – I only went to the “slur” since you are nutting on Tkachuk like crazy here. It’s blatantly obvious.
To comment on your other post, Tkachuk has had plenty of opportunities to get back at Kucherov & hasn’t. Tkachuk is just a big mouth. He’s just a punk & only attacks someone when they’re not looking. Hagel challenged him in the last game & Tkachuk didn’t do crap. Tkachuk has been doing unsportsmanlike like things throughout this series & been getting away with it. I haven’t been nursing Kucherov, just defending your biased claims but you’re nutting on Tkachuk.
No he scored 2 goals and an assist. And keep nursing away jackass
@Our cup runneth over – Still nutting on Tkachuk, I see. You calling me a jackass, that’s funny. I guess you would know since you are the definition of one. Verbatim.
So has he never been hit ever? Also, it is a lot easier to “catch” him if he isn’t expecting it/isn’t looking/doesn’t have the puck.
While I’m not a Fan of either team – how do you call a hit like this on a player who never touched the puck and wasn’t near the puck – CLEAN??
You’re obviously a Tampa fan but you’re making yourself a fool with your comment.
@bruin4ever – the hit was a legal hit. It wasn’t an illegal hit. There has been countless hard hits like this & nothing comes of it. Barkov was definitely near the puck but he just happened not to touch it. Hagel was called for 5 minutes interference & that’s that. But a possible suspension for interference?!? Give me a break! It’s not a possible suspension for the hit but interference.
The fools are the ones who think it’s a “dirty hit” when by league rules it was technically a clean hit by the book as Hagel did a shoulder hit that just happened to knock Barkov for a loop. Panthers do dirty hits all the time & nothing comes of it.
You seem to be the only one here nursing someone’s jock. Go outside and find a cousin you can hump, or something. You know less about hockey than my dog.
@causemonaught83 – Who are you talking to? Is it me or someone else? The replies are just blending together on here. I’m questioning it because you are defending Hagel in a post, just like I have on here.
@FeeltheThunder sorry, bud. I forgot to @ the panthers dipshit who was making the comment section even dumber than it usually is. Hagel isn’t a dirty player. Still can’t believe Buffalo didn’t sign him when they had his rights.
@causemonaught83 – all good mate.
Yes, that dude @our cup blah blah… is a total dumbass & just an annoying little troll on here.
You don’t think crybabythunder is the one making the comment section dumber?
Just unnecessary this type of hit deserves a suspension!
Sorry your son got hurt Mrs. Barkov
So Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas can leave their feet and target the head of an opponent every shift, but Hagel sits for a simple interference play that the officials took care of on the ice? Just checking to see if anyone actually knows what is and isn’t clean anymore.
I am assuming you were ok with Gouda’s when he was an agitator with the Lightning years ago but not so much anymore especially after playing for the Panthers
I’m assuming you are an idiot, because I actually hate the Lightning. Almost as much as I hate 10-ply little losers like you who will gladly ignore everything Marchand, Bennett, or Tkachuk does because they’re wearing laundry you like. I’ve watched most of Brandon Hagel’s pro career. AHL and NHL. He’s not dirty.
This is funny. IF you watch the hit, real time from Hagels angle, you can not tell if Barkov poked the puck or if McDonough did.
Does not matter, the lighting win the next 4. Especially if Barkov is out.
Series feels exactly like the NYR series a few years back when lightning went down 2-0. They got their legs in the third of second game and even though they lost game 2, they never looked back.
They have had zero puck luck…that evens out.
Tkachuck threating Kucherov is a joke. There is so much threatening every game by a number of guys. It is a intimidation tactic used by everyone. Let tkachuck chase him all he wants.
Without Barkov, or with a fragile barkov, the panthers are done.
Panthers got some of their own medicine. Barkov, great player and guy, sorry he is hurt, but that is the breaks. Panthers have been running at Tampa all series and will not feel bad if the script flips.
Hagle should not get more than a game. Shoulder to shoulder hit. Hagel did not have luxury of seeing the puck angle from Center ice camera.
Prediction, Kucherov side steps a hit from tkachuk and hurts himself again. Or Cernak flattens him.
Let Florida chase guys for retribution. They are getting their own medicine. Even McDonough is going out of his way to lay some wood.
Momentum is big in the playoffs.
Likely only laying wood to @ Feel the Thunder
@our cup blah blah blah
You are an idiot.
Florida wins this series regardless. TB is playing like they’re done. Body language is horrid. Florida sweep.
It was a cheap shot and clearly meant to cause harm. Low class. I think intent should be factored into this. I think Maurice is being clever. He is deliberately not giving details of Barkov’s injury until after the suspension is announced. Because if Barkov is able to play, the NHL will possibly give Hagel a pass on the hit. My guess is the suspension will be 1 game. You don’t get called to the carpet for a warning letter.
Don’t agree with the bits about “clearly meant to cause harm” stuff but I like your read on Maurice even if it that isn’t really why. I think the league HAS to give Hagel 1, minimum (though I’m pretty much always wrong when I think these things). Anyway, I like the poker-face strategy.
Or I mean like extensive injury “harm”. I think he was trying to hit him hard but maybe it ended up harder than he expected. Definitely think a suspension is in order but I do think it’s possible he underestimated how much effect the hit would have. Thing is, with hits like this, that’s often the case, so again: supplemental discipline. I just have a hard time thinking Brandon Hagel thinks he could take Barkov out of a series. Again, discipline. Sometimes people go too far and immediately regret it. Sometimes they don’t and continue to put players in jeopardy/danger repeatedly and the league does nothing. Hagel seems more the former than the latter based on his career thus far.
News flash. Every body check in the playoffs is for the purpose of inflicting harm. The game is so fast. There is no time for calculation. At game speed from Hagels angle. He has no idea who pushed the puck passed him. If he intended harm. He would have hit him in the head. Hehithim like a man shoulder to shoulder.
Throw the book at him give him 10 games
I’m not really a Hagel fan myself and can see there’s been plenty of commentary to thrill arguments already, but to my eye it looked like a competitive guy making what turned out to be a bad decision, so a suspension seems appropriate. Barkov was a bit closer to the puck than some guys are in controversial plays like this, but he still didn’t play it, so nothing to argue there. Hagel was probably pretty surprised he upended Barkov as much as he did, and probably to his good fortune the league will want him on the ice. I’d be really surprised if it’s even two games. Regarding people being punks, I’ve often heard “it takes one to know one,” and I find that really confusing cause I always thought I AM a punk but I’m just not seeing what some of y’all are pointing at haha
2 games. Anything more leads into next year
Haha touché
As a Tampa fan, I am disgusted with Hagel. Refuse to root for him. Hoping he gets knocked out in game 3. Tampa is too soft to hang with Panthers, Hagel is a coward.
Hagel is a rock star. Grow up, it’s hockey
Hsgel is a big little girl, just
Ike his Tampa peeps here crying, whining, wondering how come their little world is crumbling. They can’t figure out what to do , but Awe , to fu**ing bad, and I absolutely love watching them cry, cry, and whine.
If most of yo7 peeps listened to the entire broadcast, he did indeed hit him in the chin, neck area, yes shoulder too . Look at it in slow motion dummy. The broadcast crew even mentioned that . Don’t worry , Hagel will catch his at the right moment and time . Oh yea , Panther fan here , hate the Tampa Pus*ies lol