Can Brandon Hagel keep the Tampa Bay Lightning alive?

the fight was briefBut consequential.

Juraj Slafkowski had pulled Brandon Hagel away from a scam near montreal canadiens‘ Net. Hagel went one-on-one with the Canadiens winger and asked him to take off his gloves. Slafkowski agreed and threw a few punches from behind. tampa bay lightning Winger’s helmet. Then Hagel dropped him with a right hook.

Lightning fans were roaring in Game 2, but the fight wasn’t for them. This was for Hagel’s teammates, who were playing in a 1–1 game, knowing they had already lost in their series against the Canadiens after an overtime loss in Game 1.

“Everyone in the room knows we’re good when we play with emotions,” Hegel said. “People are willing to bring everyone into the fight. That’s what I was trying to do.”

The Lightning fought back to win Game 2. Hegel scored the game’s opening goal and assisted on one. Nikita Kucherov Target. Add in the fighting majors, and it was the first Gordie Howe hat trick in Tampa Bay playoff history.

“Honestly, I never expected this,” he said with a smile. “You have to do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes you have to struggle. Obviously you need to score goals.”

In five games, Hagel has six goals and one assist for the Lightning against Montreal. But Hagel failed to score a point in their Game 5 loss, leaving Tampa Bay down 3-2 in the series and on the brink of elimination heading into Friday night’s showdown at the Bell Center.7pm ET, ESPN2). Hagel described his team’s effort as “honestly sad” for failing to win at home.

He said, “I think everybody, individually, when Game 6 is over, this team will learn a lot about itself.” “There’s not much else to say. I think it will show a lot about our team and who we are as people.”

This is not the same Brandon Hagel in 2022 chicago blackhawksHowever this is exactly the Brandon Hagel the Lightning hoped he could become when he shocked the N.H.L. Flipping two first-round picks and two players For him.

“He just does it all. He’s a 200-foot player, plays on both sides of the puck. And he’s obviously the hottest guy in the league right now,” the Lightning winger. Jake Guentzel Said.

He has also been one of the Most Valuable Players in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hagel’s teammates refer to him as the “heartbeat” of the Lightning, from his clutch play to his physicality to his rising vocal leadership.

“He’s the straw that’s keeping us motivated,” coach John Cooper said. “At that time, he was traded for, [what] It seemed like a lot. “It probably doesn’t look like that today from the way he’s playing.”

How did Hegel get to this next level in his game? Around Lightning, he believes a pair of international tournaments have created the current version.

in april 2024The Lightning were rolled in five games Florida Panthers In the first round, that included digging a 0-3 deficit against the eventual Stanley Cup champions. Hagel had five points in the series, but losses in Games 2 and 3 saw him score no points and finish with a minus-5.

“We had chances to capitalize. We didn’t capitalize,” Hagel said after the series.

Hegel was playing despite the injury. He could have called it a season, but there was a permanent invitation from Hockey Canada to join their team at the IIHF World Championships in Czechia. Although it was not a memorable tournament for Canada – losing to Sweden in the third-place game – it Was As for Hegel, who had three goals and four assists in 10 games. He played a role in the negotiations for Team Canada to advance to major events over the next two years: the 4 Nations and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Whether it was Team Canada’s morale or newfound confidence, Hagel was shot out of a cannon with 12 goals and 19 assists in his first 24 games to start the 2024-25 season. He earned a roster spot for the 4 Nations Face-Off, a four-team tournament presented by the NHL and the NHLPA in February 2025, which would further change the direction of Hegel’s career.

The United States and Canada met in the preliminary round in Montreal, the first battle between hockey superpowers in a “best-on-best” tournament since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The anticipation was off the charts. Bell Center was a powder keg. Matthew Tkachuk Asked Hagel if he wanted to start it after the preliminary round.

Two seconds into the game, Hagel and his arch rival from the Panthers threw a punch Three fights in the first nine seconds Between America and Canada. After wrestling on the ice, Hagel stood up and motioned the crowd to their feet.

“Trying to bring some energy into the building. They asked and I’m not backing down from them. It’s taken a long time,” Hagel said.

But the fight did not end here. When Matthew and brady tkachuk Gaining instant notoriety for his quarrels, Hegel openly questioned his motivations. He infamously said, “Whatever happened that night, I did it for the flag, not for the cameras.”

Hagel played four games to win a gold medal at the 4 Nations, and then played six more games for Canada’s silver medalists at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, which gave him a chance to see how players like Sidney Crosby And nathan mackinnon Work behind the scenes.

Hagel was 23 years old when he was acquired by the Lightning in March 2022, making him one of the youngest players on a roster filled with veterans, including leaders such as the captain. steven stamkos, Victor Hedman, alex killorn And Pat Maroon.

“We had a different team when he came in. They weren’t necessarily older, but there were a lot of established players. There were a lot of guys who had wins on the 2020 and 2021 teams,” Cooper recalled.

“Hedges didn’t come in guns blazing. He came in and found his way. Where’s my spot? Let me see what I can do. And then he slowly started elevating his game. He was forcing my hand in every situation to make him play more. That’s what you want from a player.”

Gradually, the veterans on that team moved on due to attrition and the salary cap. The biggest change came in 2024 when Stamkos and the Lightning parted ways, with the franchise’s all-time goals leader signing in Nashville.

The team needed more assertive leadership. Hegel’s voice became louder.

“He may not wear a letter now, but he’s going to eventually,” Cooper said. “There are some people who have that quality and he also has that quality.”

This was never more evident than in Game 4 against Montreal. The Lightning were down 2–1 in the series and needed a boost – especially as Hedman, their captain, had missed the entire series due to personal reasons. The Canadiens had a 2–0 lead in the game. Hagel stood up from the bench. He looked left, looked right and delivered a captivating and powerful message to his comrades.

“Heggie is a competitor. He’s the heartbeat of this team. He kind of got us back there,” defenseman Darren Raddish Said.

The Lightning would eventually rally to win.

Cooper said, “It’s one thing to say it. There are some people who mean it. It’s coming from their heart, their soul.” “You talk about the progression of things that helped us during this game. I think that was a big part of it.”

despite all the speeches And despite the fight and the goal, Hagel’s team is still one loss away from seeing their season end in Game 6 in Montreal. Which would mean two very disappointing postseasons in a row for different reasons for the Lightning winger.

Tampa Bay lost to the Panthers in five games last year, only to watch their rival win the Stanley Cup a few weeks later. Hegel only played in three of those games. He was suspended for Game 3 after what the NHL’s Department of Player Safety called an “extreme body check of an unsuspecting opponent”, which left the Panthers captain injured. Alexander Barkov.

Cooper said that part of Hegel’s development was trying to avoid those consequences.

“I think when he walks a fine line because he’s an emotional player and I think that’s what drives him, that’s when he gets success,” he said. “But he’s really found a way to keep it within limits.”

Hagel returned for Game 4 but only played 11 minutes, leaving the game and the series after being elbowed in the head by a Panthers defenseman. aaron ekbladDue to which Ekblad had to face a two-game suspension. Redish said Lightning players can see how much it means to Hagel to be in the playoff lineup after a year away.

“I know when he was out, he was in the locker room, he was still giving speeches. He was trying to get guys going. He cares and that’s what you want in a hockey player,” Raddish said. “So for him to play and be a big part of our team again this year is huge for us.”

Despite now being an integral part of the franchise, Hagel was not with the Lightning for a Stanley Cup victory. 2020 And 2021. The dynasty collapsed due to an avalanche in their first season 2022 stanley cup finals. He is among a group of Tampa Bay players who do not have a Stanley Cup ring.

“There’s a rush to get a ring for those who don’t have one, and Hegel is leading the charge,” Cooper said.

By any means necessary.