(Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Brandon Hagel will miss Game 3 on Saturday afternoon
  • Aleksander Barkov is a game-time decision
  • Read below for more on Hagel’s suspension

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has been suspended one game for his interference penalty against Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 on Thursday night.

Hagel was assessed a five-minute major on the ice, and Barkov left the game after taking the nasty hit.

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That could’ve completely changed the game with the penalty coming midway through the third period of a 1-0 game, and while the Lightning killed off the five-minute power play, they also failed to score themselves in Game 2.

Hagel was a key piece of the Lightning this season. He was one of three players to play in all 82 games, and he trailed only Nikita Kucherov with 90 points (35 goals, 55 assists) on the year.

“Obviously, ‘Hags’ is a big part of this team and everything we do, but throughout the season we’ve always had that next-man-up mentality,” Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee said. “When someone goes down, gets hurt or whatever happens, the rest of us have to step up and get the job done.”

On the other side, the Panthers were just getting fully healthy and now must worry about their captain’s status.

“He hasn’t been ruled out yet (for Game 3) and he hasn’t been cleared,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said on Friday.

The two-time Selke Trophy winner is obviously a huge part of the Panthers’ attack. He is their top-line center and plays in all situations for the Cats. He had 71 points (20 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games this season.

The Lightning will be without Hagel as they look to mount a comeback in the series in Florida. Tampa Bay trails 2-0 and now goes on the road to face off against the Panthers. Game 3 is on Saturday afternoon with puck drop set for 1:00 p.m. EDT.