Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel is suspended for Game 3 after his Game 2 hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
Hagel received a major penalty for interference against Barkov in the third period of Thursday night’s game, a 2-0 win for the Panthers over the Lightning.
Barkov tried to win a puck battle against Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh, but the latter swatted the puck around the boards. Barkov hadn’t touched the puck and turned to pursue it, said the NHL Department of Player Safety’s video explanation of the suspension.
“Long after the puck is gone, Hagel loads up and delivers a high, hard bodycheck that makes some head contact on Barkov,” the video said.
Hagel reportedly argued he approached the play as if Barkov had touched the puck, but NHL Player Safety’s video said the onus is on Hagel to ensure the player he’s hitting is eligible to be hit. In this case, Barkov was ineligible.
This is Hagel’s first instance of supplementary discipline.
The 26-year-old has no points through two playoff games this season, and he had 35 goals and 55 assists for 90 points in 82 regular-season matchups.
As for Barkov, his status for Game 3 on Saturday remained unknown when Panthers coach addressed the media on Friday.
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