Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad rocks Brandon Hagel with brutal hit to head

As mentioned, this follows a hit from Hagel to Barkov in Game 2. Hagel’s hit did not catch the Panthers captain in the head. However, he did hit Barkov well after the puck was cleared away from either player. Moreover, it did appear as if the Lightning star left his feet to deliver the hit.

Tensions between these Floridian rivals have reached a boiling point over the last few years. The Lightning were once the NHL’s model franchise, winning two Stanley Cups and making four Stanley Cup Final appearances since 2015. However, the Panthers have begun their own ascent.

Florida made the 2023 Stanley Cup Final in one of the most inspirational postseason runs in recent memory. They lost that series to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. However, the Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2024. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to claim the Cup last June.

At this time, the Lightning hold a 2-1 lead entering the third period. Game 4 could certainly set the tone for the rest of this series. The NHL stepped in after Hagel’s hit on Barkov. One would have to imagine the league is also going to look at Ekblad’s forearm blow from Monday night.