The NHL has placed Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel on a one-game suspension due to his illegal hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov during Game 2 of their playoff series. The incident occurred in the third period when Hagel collided with Barkov after the puck had moved away, prompting a five-minute major penalty for interference. The league determined that Barkov was not eligible to be checked at that moment, resulting in the disciplinary action. This marks Hagel's first suspension in a total of 411 games played, including regular and playoff matches.

The Panthers lead the series 2-0 after winning Game 2, which saw Barkov leave the ice and not return for the final minutes. Lightning coach Jon Cooper expressed surprise at the major penalty but acknowledged the refs' decision. The status of Barkov remains uncertain as Panthers head coach Paul Maurice stated he has neither been ruled out nor cleared for Game 3. The upcoming match is crucial for the Panthers as they aim to advance to the next round of the playoffs.