Ahead of Brandon Hagel’s return to the lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round against the Florida Panthers, a key Tampa Bay Lightning player issued a strong warning to Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and the rest of the Panthers. The Cats will have to answer the bell, as Hagel is expected to come flying out of the gates Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena, with the Bolts looking to even up the series in the NHL postseason.
Tampa and Florida have created one of the biggest rivalries in the NHL in recent years. The Sunshine State has had a representative in each of the last five Stanley Cup Finals, proving hockey is meant to be played in the South, too.
The Lightning and Panthers are meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons, with Tampa Bay holding a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head series so far. The first-round clash of the 2024-25 NHL season has lived up to the hype, with Matthew Tkachuk providing fireworks night after night since returning from long-term injured reserve.
The Panthers have built a reputation for their gritty style of play, which has brought them plenty of success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the Lightning have no intention of backing down. Ahead of Game 4, Anthony Cirelli issued a warning to Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk, who will be put to the test as Tampa Bay looks to steal another win on the road.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers warms up prior to a game against the Montreal Canadiens at Amerant Bank Arena on March 30, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
“He’s going to be back and he’s going to be buzzing in this next one,” Cirelli stated, per NHL.com. “We went out there and played for him [in Game 3]. He’s one of us; he’s our family in here. He wasn’t able to go and we just talked about, just got to step up and take it game at a time and go out there and win that one for him.“
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Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov makes something clear to Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, teammates after rough Game 3 loss vs Tampa
Head on a swivel
Hagel was assessed a one-game suspension by the NHL Player Safety Department after laying a vicious hit on a possession-less Aleksander Barkov during Game 2 back in Tampa.
There wasn’t many arguments to be held in Hagel’s defense, however, controversy arose after Tkachuk landed a similar hit on Jake Guentzel during Game 3, yet the NHL opted for no further discipline. Tkachuk was handed a five-minute major for interference, but he won’t miss out on the action during Game 4.
The Lightning took exception to Tkachuk’s actions, leading to chaos breaking loose on the ice. However, it feels like the spark has only just been lit, with even more fireworks expected when the two Florida-based franchises clash again on April 28.
“I think he’s going to have a great game,” forward Zemgus Girgensons said about Hagel. “I think him sitting out a game will build up his emotions. I think he’s going to be flying tomorrow.”
Matthew Tkachuk of Team USA fights Brandon Hagel of Team Canada during the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
Hagel vs Tkachuk: Chapter II
Neither Hagel nor Tkachuk are the type to back down from conflict; if anything, they’ll likely lead the charge. The two were at the center of a viral clash during the 4 Nations tournament when Team USA and Canada faced off in their Round Robin matchup, and it’s shaping up to be the next chapter in what’s quickly becoming an instant-classic rivalry.
However, both sides have plenty of players who aren’t afraid to drop the mitts. The Panthers boast a trio of agitators in Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett — players who would each be considered the biggest instigator on most NHL teams, but in Florida, they come together to form a three-headed Tasmanian devil.
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Game 4 is expected to bring more of what the first three meetings had in abundance: goals, emotions, brawls, and the ever-burning hatred between two franchises battling for bragging rights until only one is left standing.
