NHL Delivers Discipline For Brandon Hagel Incident

The NHL's Department of Player Safety has ruled on the play involving a Brandon Hagel boarding penalty on Eetu Luostarinen in Sunday's night's Game 3 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The league has slapped Hagel on the wrist with a $3,750 fine, but no suspension, making him available for Game 4 Monday night as the Lightning attempt to complete the sweep.

Hagel was originally assessed a major when he dangerously cross-checked Luostarinen into the boards, though the officials changed that call to a minor penalty after review.

Hagel gets 2 minute for cross-checking. pic.twitter.com/isbnN699UX

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) May 22, 2022

Luostarinen was only a couple of feet from the boards when Hagel cross-checked him from behind, sending the Panthers center crashing into the end boards head-first. Luostarinen did return to the game, however. 

Hagel has had an effective playoffs thus far for the Lightning, after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline. 

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports