Apr 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) celebrate after beating the Florida Panthers in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
There’s been no shortage of events between the Lightning and Panthers so far. Narratives can change quickly in the playoffs, and the Lightning took the first step in rewriting their story for the series.
On Sunday, it was reported that Matthew Tkachuk would avoid a disciplinary hearing with NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his open-ice hit on Jake Guentzel. Tkachuk made eye contact with the puck as Cirelli carried it up the ice to score into an empty net. The Panthers forward skated in from Guentzel’s blind side, and delivered a hard check, knocking him on to the ice.
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Despite drawing a five-minute major for interference on the hit, which was the same penalty that led to Brandon Hagel’s one game suspension on Friday, Tkachuk will not receive further punishment.
“Obviously, the timing of the hit, it’s 4-1 and we’re about to make it 5-1 and Tkachuk goes out of his way to hit Guentzel,” Lightning captain Victor Hedman said on Sunday. “But that’s what it is. We can’t control what the league thinks is interference and what’s suspendable and not suspendable. So, we’re just gonna fight through that.”
As the series tightens between the two teams, post-whistle scrums have become more frequent, with emotions spilling over after nearly every stoppage. Taking unnecessary penalties, or suspensions for that matter, would only derail what the Lightning have set out to accomplish.
“You kind of keep your cool, it’s tough,” said Cirelli. “Emotions of the game and different aspects of what might be a penalty, what might not be a penalty. But the refs, they’re taking one so it’s just kind of on us to just kind of walk away. Maybe have to eat a punch, eat a cross check, eat a slash, and just kind of get out of there. Let them do all of the extracurriculars and we just kind of try and play in between the whistles.”
Mar 17, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) passes the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Lightning will get a boost in Game 4 on Monday with the return of Brandon Hagel. This has been a career-best season for Hagel, who had 90 points (35 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games, but it’s not just the production he adds, it’s the spark he ignites every time he hits the ice.
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“He’s a fiery competitor, that kid,” said coach Jon Cooper. “He’s brought so much to our team since the day we acquired him. You know it ate him alive probably to have to sit out a game. We were on the fortunate side that we were able to win, but he’s obviously had an impact on the series, in a positive way, take away the hit.”
“He’s a big part of our group. Just his want-to-win attitude. I think he was living the game while it was going on, and he wasn’t even playing. But you love in that your players. I think any coach would want to take a Brandon Hagel on their team.”
