[Updated from original post published earlier today]
The NHL has suspended Brandon Hagel one game for his hit on Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. Hagel will miss Game 3 on Saturday. The league’s ruling was that the onus was on Hagel to know that Barkov didn’t touch the puck before delivering an “extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent with sufficient force for supplemental discipline.”
[Original Post]
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel is set to have a hearing with the league on Friday in regards to the hit he placed on Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov in the third period of the Lightning’s 2-0 loss in Game 2.
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Hagel was assessed a major penalty for interference by the officials, which was then confirmed after a review. The Lightning were able to kill off the major penalty with Hagel in the box, but they also lost roughly four minutes of ice time that could have been used trying to equalize the game instead of killing off a short-handed opportunity.
The hit in-and-of-itself was not dirty. Hagel put his shoulder into Barkov’s chest and avoided making the head the principle point of contact. The problem with the hit, and why he was penalized, was that Barkov never touched the puck. Based on Hagel’s initial reaction of disbelief, it is likely that his defense will be that he thought Barkov played the puck in the corner.
If Hagel is fined for the hit, it wouldn’t be his first interaction with the DoPS during a playoff series against Florida. Back in 2022 he was fined for boarding Eetu Luostarinen in Game 3 of that series.
Barkov was clearly shaken up by the hit and did not return to the game. His status for Game 3, which has a 1:00 PM start time in Sunrise is uncertain at this point. Hagel practiced with the Lightning prior to their flight to Southern Florida.
A suspension to one of their top forwards would severely hinder the Lightning’s attempt to claw their way back into a series in which they are down two games to none. Already playing the series without Oliver Bjorkstrand, the Bolts can ill afford to lose a player that scored 35 goals in the regular season, with 23 of them coming at 5v5. With the Lightning offense struggling as a whole, they need as many healthy forwards as possible.
This story will be updated as news of the DoPS’ verdict is released. (likely 3 minutes after we hit publish on this story)
