Hagel suspended for Recreation 3 resulting from hit on Barkov – ESPN

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel was suspended one sport by the NHL Division of Participant Security on Friday evening for what it labeled “a particularly forceful physique test to an unsuspecting opponent” that injured Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
Hagel will miss Saturday’s Recreation 3 in Dawn, Florida. The Panthers lead the collection, 2-0.
Round halfway via the third interval of Thursday’s Recreation 2, Tampa Bay was on the facility play trailing 1-0. Barkov pressured defenseman Ryan McDonagh deep within the Lightning zone. With the puck clearly previous Barkov, Hagel lined him up for an enormous hit that despatched the Panthers captain all the way down to the ice and thumping off the tip boards.
A penalty was instantly whistled, and the officers conferred earlier than calling a “five-minute penalty.” After overview, Hagel was given a 5-minute main for interference. Barkov left the sport with 10:09 remaining in regulation and didn’t return to the 2-0 Panthers win.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper stated after the sport that he did not anticipate Hagel to obtain a significant penalty for the hit.
“Refs make the decision. I used to be slightly stunned it was a 5, but it surely was,” he stated.
The NHL dominated that the hit from Hagel made “some head contact” on Barkov.
“It is essential to notice that Barkov isn’t in possession of the puck on this play and is subsequently not eligible to be checked in any method,” the league stated.
Within the Friday listening to, held remotely, Hagel argued that he was approaching the play with the anticipation that Barkov would play the puck. But the Department of Player Safety said the onus was on Hagel to make sure that Barkov was eligible to be checked. It additionally decided that the hit had “ample power” for supplemental self-discipline.
It is Hagel’s first suspension in 375 regular-season and 36 playoff video games. He was fined for boarding Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen in Could 2022.
The Panthers held an optionally available skate Friday. Coach Paul Maurice stated Barkov “hasn’t been dominated out but” however “hasn’t been cleared” for Recreation 3.
“He is an irreplicable participant,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones stated of Barkov. “Among the best centermen within the league. He is tremendous essential to our group.”
The lack of Hagel comes with the Lightning determined for objectives within the collection; they scored two objectives in Recreation 1 and have been shut out in Recreation 2. Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring group within the common season (3.56), with Hagel contributing 35 objectives and 55 assists in 82 video games.

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