Brandon Hagel has recorded a goal in each of the first three playoff games for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Montreal Canadiens. The series stands at 2-1 in favor of Montreal, with all contests decided in overtime. Hagel's contributions have been pivotal amid the tight matchup.
The Tampa Bay Lightning trail the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in their first-round NHL playoff series, but forward Brandon Hagel has emerged as a standout performer. The 27-year-old has notched a goal in every game so far, totaling five points and a plus-5 rating through three contests. Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022 in exchange for two first-round picks, Boris Katchouk, and Taylor Raddysh, Hagel has proven his value on a $6.5 million annual contract through 2032. During the regular season, he tallied 36 goals and 74 points in 71 games, per The Hockey Writers reporting on his playoff impact. In Game 1 at Amalie Arena, Hagel scored twice, including a power-play goal late in the third period to tie the score at 3-3, though Tampa lost 4-3 in overtime. He opened Game 2 with a goal and later dropped the gloves with Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, landing a right hand despite being outsized before rallying the crowd. The Lightning prevailed in overtime on J.J. Moser's goal. Game 3 saw Hagel score in the second period, but Montreal's Lane Hutson netted the winner in the third straight overtime thriller, securing a 2-1 series lead. With Game 4 looming at Bell Centre, the Lightning require Hagel to maintain his intensity. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has shown improvement after a shaky opener. Hagel's positioning, work ethic, and clutch play have anchored Tampa's efforts in this back-and-forth series.
