Lightning’s Hagel suspended for hit on Panthers’ Barkov in Game 2 of playoff series

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has been suspended one game for his hit on the Florida Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup playoffs series, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday night.

The hit came with 10:09 left in regulation of Florida’s eventual 2-0 win and was away from the puck. Hagel was handed a five-minute major penalty for interference on the play, and Barkov went to the dressing room under his own power but did not return to the game.

Game 3 of the best-of-7 series will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. Florida leads the series 2-0. Panthers coach Paul Maurice on Friday said Barkov will be a game-time decision with an unspecified injury related to the hit.

The NHL’s explanation for the suspension was follows:

“On Thursday night in Tampa Bay, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was assessed a major penalty for interference against Panthers forward Alexander Barkov. ... Barkov forechecks into the Tampa Bay zone, racing for a chipped puck into the corner with Hagel supporting from the middle of the ice. The Lightning player wins the race and chips the puck behind the net. Barkov, having never touched the puck, moves to pursue the puck behind the net. Long after the puck is gone, Hagel loads up and delivers a high, hard body check that makes some head contact on Barkov. This is interference.

“It is important to note that Barkov is never in possession of the puck on this play and is therefore not eligible to be checked in any manner. While we understand Hagel’s argument that he is approaching the play as if Barkov will play the puck, the onus is on Hegel to ensure that the player he is hitting is eligible to be checked. Here, Barkov is not eligible to be hit, and Hagel still intentionally delivers an extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent with sufficient force for supplemental discipline.”

This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM.

Jordan McPherson

Miami Herald

305-376-2129

Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.