After a 4-2 loss in Game 4, the Tampa Bay Lightning return home trailing the Florida Panthers 3-1 in the series, staring down elimination.
It’s been a heated and increasingly contentious series between the two teams, with physicality and controversial hits becoming central to the narrative.
In his second game back in the lineup, Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad landed a hit to the head and neck area of Brandon Hagel, who fell directly onto his back. Ekblad was not penalized and Hagel did not return to the game. The Panthers defenseman later went on to score.
On Tuesday, Ekblad was suspended for two games. In the hearing, Ekblad said he did not intend to hit Hagel in the head, but the department of player safety determined he did and “with requisite force for supplemental discipline.”
It wasn’t just Ekblad, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 on Tuesday for ramming Lightning forward Zemgus Girgenson’s head into the boards while he was down on his knees. Mikkola received a five-minute major penalty and a game-misconduct. Girgensons appeared shaken up but did return to the game.
On Tuesday, Jon Cooper announced the Lightning would be without Brandon Hagel for Game 5.
“He’s not playing (Wednesday), Cooper said. “There it is. And you know why..”
Hagel, who was second in scoring for the Lightning during the regular season has been one of the Bolts’ most dynamic forwards all year. It will be the second time this series the Lightning have had to battle without Hagel in the lineup.
“There’s a catchy word called adversity. The script doesn't always go as planned,” said Cooper. “But I tell the players, ‘Let’s be the ones that write our own story, and we go from there.’ So, you take this group and the belief they have, we’ll just step forward and try and write our own story.”