Lightning star Brandon Hagel shared why he fought Matthew Tkachuk.

During Team Canada and Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off matchup on Feb. 15, fans were treated to three fights in the first nine seconds. Tampa Bay Lightning star Brandon Hagel was in one of them, dropping the gloves with Team USA's Matthew Tkachuk. 

The fight between Hagel and Tkachuk was a great one, as both threw multiple hard punches before the Lightning star landed the takedown. The fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal undoubtedly loved it, as they erupted following the scrap. 

While speaking with reporters, Hagel shared his reason for dropping the gloves with Tkachuk.

"Listen, what happened the other night, I did it for the flag," Hagel said. "And not for the cameras."

While Hagel is a very skilled player, he is also known for his scrappiness and tenacity. His comments on his fight against Tkachuk certainly demonstrate this, and he clearly possesses plenty of pride in representing Canada in this tournament. 

Hagel and Team Canada will now look to get revenge against Tkachuk and Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game on Feb. 20. This contest will undoubtedly be incredibly entertaining, and it will be fascinating to see which team ends up being victorious. 

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