Brandon Hagel [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e5430f4f-2c1c-4c91-8d9b-faf23689d3d4.jpeg] Brandon Hagel Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] head coach Jon Cooper has announced [https://x.com/TBLightning/status/1917270670553080046?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet] that forward Brandon Hagel will not be in the lineup for their Game 5 matchup against the Florida Panthers. This unfortunate announcement comes after Hagel was injured in Game 4. During that contest, the Lightning [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWFJvWldodlkydGxlVzVsZDNNdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwruDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA:en] star winger received a forearm to the head from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad did not receive a penalty on the play but has a hearing with NHL Player Safety. Hagel being ruled out for Game 5 is simply awful news for the Lightning. He is one of their best players, and not having him in the lineup will make things more challenging for the Bolts. The Lightning are also one loss away from being knocked out of the playoffs, which makes the timing of Hagel's absence even worse. Hagel, 26, has played in three playoff games this year with the Lightning, where he has zero points, five penalty minutes, and a minus-4 rating. In 82 regular-season games with Tampa Bay this year, he posted 35 goals, 55 assists, and 90 points, which were all new career highs. It will now be interesting to see if the Lightning can pull off a win in Game 5 without Hagel on the ice from here. Recent Lightning News Lightning Coach Jon Cooper Is Sick Of Talking About Dirty Hits [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/03091620-6bfd-4301-a357-4a799414e50a.jpeg] Lightning Coach Jon Cooper Is Sick Of Talking About Dirty Hits Game 4 was an incredibly frustrating one for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>. After being up 2-1, the Lightning allowed three unanswered goals to the Florida Panthers in the third period and lost by a 4-2 final score. With this, the <a href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWFJvWldodlkydGxlVzVsZDNNdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwruDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA:en">Lightning</a> are now down 3-1 in the series and need to win their next three games to advance to the second round. If they are unsuccessful in doing so, it will mark the end of their season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-coach-jon-cooper-is-sick-of-talking-about-dirty-hits] Lightning's Brandon Hagel Exits After Receiving High Hit [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/d1615299-b2eb-4f97-9656-dc3ff5e05563.jpeg] Lightning's Brandon Hagel Exits After Receiving High Hit During the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>'s Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers, star forward Brandon Hagel exited after receiving a high hit from defenseman Aaron Ekblad. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightnings-brandon-hagel-exits-after-receiving-high-hit] Former Lightning Forward Calls It A Career [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/992dd7b0-9343-4414-aa68-96a472baf067.jpeg] Former Lightning Forward Calls It A Career Former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> forward Valtteri Filppula has officially retired from professional hockey. Filppula's 2024-25 team, Jokerit of the Finnish league, Mestis, <a href="https://x.com/jokerithc/status/1917169971165069771">made the announcement</a>. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/former-lightning-forward-calls-it-a-career]
