{"id":544433,"date":"2026-04-06T22:16:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/544433\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T22:16:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:16:33","slug":"key-lightning-player-ruled-out-before-showdown-against-sabres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/544433\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Lightning player ruled out before showdown against Sabres"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> and Buffalo Sabres<\/a> have jostled for position atop the NHL\u2019s<\/a> Atlantic Division for more than a month.<\/p>\n

As the teams prepare to face off Monday, April 6, for the final time in 2025-26, the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> have joined the chat. Heading into Monday\u2019s schedule, Tampa Bay leads the division with 102 points. Meanwhile, the Sabres and Canadiens sit just two points behind. The Lightning have a game in hand on both teams.<\/p>\n

Still, the Sabres have designs on their first division championship since 2010. Winning Monday\u2019s home game against the Lightning would put them back on track.<\/p>\n

To that end, Tampa Bay announced it will be without a key player. Left wing Brandon Hagel, the team\u2019s third-leading scorer, will miss a third straight game due to injury, Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Eduardo A. Encina posted on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#GoBolts<\/a> coach Jon Cooper said that Brandon Hagel will not play tonight vs. #Sabrehood<\/a>. Said Scott Sabourin is \u201cgoing to try\u201d to play.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

So far, Hagel has 35 goals, which ties a career high he set last season, and 38 assists for Tampa Bay. His 73 points rank third on the team behind Nikita Kucherov\u2019s 125 and Jake Guentzel\u2019s 84.<\/p>\n

Hagel suffered an undisclosed injury on March 31 during a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.<\/p>\n

Hagel became a lightning rod during the most recent Tampa Bay-Buffalo matchup, a wild 8-7 victory by the Sabres on March 8 in Buffalo. He received a $5,000 fine from the NHL for being the aggressor in a fight with Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin.<\/p>\n

That game featured 28 penalties and 102 penalty minutes.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper remarked on the importance of the matchup during Monday\u2019s morning skate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s everyone doing here?\u201d Cooper asked the assembled media, per NHL.com<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s Game 77, not Game 83.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffalo enters Monday\u2019s game having already clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 14 years<\/a>. That was the longest postseason drought in NHL history.<\/p>\n

But the Sabres have struggled through a 2-3-2 stretch recently. Head coach Lindy Ruff said his players will have to keep their emotions in check. \u201cBut you\u2019d rather have your team jacked up than not jacked up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay last won the the Atlantic Division in 2019, the year before they began a run of consecutive Stanley Cup championships.<\/p>\n

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