Tampa Bay Lightning ahead Brandon Hagel will miss Sport 3 of Tampa’s first-round Stanley Cup Playoff sequence with the Florida Panthers after delivering an unlawful hit on Florida’s captain Aleksander Barkov in Sport 2, the league introduced on Friday. Barkov was compelled to depart Thursday’s sport after the hit and didn’t return.
Within the third interval of the Panthers’ 2-0 win over the Lightning, Barkov was racing Hagel and Tampa defenseman Ryan McDonagh into the nook for a free puck. McDonagh gained the race, enjoying the puck across the boards.
Regardless of that, Hagel laid a heavy hit on Barkov, who hit the ice and the boards with plenty of power. Barkov didn’t return, and his standing for Sport 3 is unknown. Hagel was given a five-minute main penalty for interference.
After reviewing the play, the NHL Division of Participant Security introduced on Friday that Hagel can be suspended one sport. The league famous that Hagel delivered “extraordinarily forceful physique test to an unsuspecting opponent with adequate power for supplemental self-discipline.”
The Division of Participant Security added that, even when Hagel thought Barkov was about to play the puck, Hagel is answerable for figuring out whether or not Barkov has possession.
“It is very important be aware that Barkov isn’t in possession of the puck on this play and is subsequently not eligible to be checked in any method,” DoPS stated in its announcement. “Whereas we perceive Hagel’s argument that he’s approaching the play as if Barkov will play the puck, the onus is on Hagel to make sure that the participant he’s hitting is eligible to be checked.”
With Hagel undoubtedly out for Sport 3 on Saturday afternoon, all eyes flip to Barkov. The Panthers captain wasn’t cleared to skate on Friday, however coach Paul Maurice did not formally rule him out.
Barkov has been crucial in holding Lightning celebrity Nikita Kucherov in test by way of two video games. If he cannot go, Florida will want Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell to step up and eat a few of these minutes down the center.
