Tampa Bay Lightning fell 4–2 at Florida Panthers in Game 4 on Monday night, but most of the postgame focus was on the second period hit.
Aaron Ekblad level Brandon Hagel with a high hit between the boards through the second period, extending the power in the head with a cell.
Hagel immediately went down, left the rink, and did not return, while no fine was called on the drama.
Lightning Captain Victor Headman questioned the validity of the hit and its effect on the game, removing Hagel.
“Yes, looking at it live, it felt like a elbow,”Headman said“And then the replay was watching, of course there was a elbow.
“He did not return to the game.”
We will start Lightning PostGem Video …
Captain Victor Headman
Handy discussed to remove the lead late, a hit and power play on Ekblad Hazel struggles #Gobolts#NHLpic.twitter.com/uqwapmgbhb
– Jai Richar (@Jayrecher) 29 April, 2025
Lightning head coach John Cooper was Clearly disappointedWith patterns of physical phenomena in the series, to labeled the conversation on the hit “tedious”.
Cooper said, “This is getting tedious to answer questions about each game.” “Why are you asking me questions?”
“If someone has something here [to say]Stand up and tell me. ,
Aaron Ekblad Brandon gets frontal for Hagel’s dome. There is no fine on the play.
pic.twitter.com/nyjbsjucsb
– Spitin ‘chiclets (@spittinchiclets) 29 April, 2025
Hit came a game when Hagel returned from a game suspension of a blindside hit on Panthers captain Alexander Barkov in Game 2.
Overall, the last two matches include 19 punishments, including a game misconduct for Nico Miccola in Florida. BoardingTampa Bay’s Zamgas Girganson in Sports 4.
Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman Victor Headman (77) and goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevski (88) celebrated after defeating Florida Panthers at Ament Bank Arena.
Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice refrained from commenting on the nuances of Ekblad Hit during his postgam press conference.
“I do not want to use this platform to start making my case on it,” Mauris said“Everyone has got a job to deal with. I will just stay in my lane.”
After 40 minutes of Michelle Chaffi and Eric Serk’s goals, Lightning led 2–1, but Florida returned to gain a 3–1 series lead over all the Gulf with three-oblivious goals in the third.
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