![\"Canadiens](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0x0.jpg\")
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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel knocks down Montr\u00e9al Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsk\u00fd as they fight during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo\/Chris O’Meara)<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
Enough was enough. That is what Brandon Hagel said following the Lightning\u2019s 3-2 overtime decision versus the Canadiens on Tuesday night in Tampa. The faithful at Benchmark International Arena undoubtedly had similar thoughts. After all, their team had lost 10 of 11 at home in the postseason and 12 of its last 13 playoff games that went to overtime.<\/p>\n
At least in Game 2, the Lightning played desperate and determined from the start of a fourth period in which they outshot the Habs 9-0. They eventually broke through when J.J. Moser beat Jakub Dobes at 12:48 for his first career playoff goal. The euphoria that ensued among the 19,092 on hand, at least those not rooting for the bleu, blanc et rouge, might have been more a display of relief than anything. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone kind on knew that, in the dressing room going into overtime, we know what works,\u201d said Hagel. \u201cThat was probably the best hockey we played in the series. It was fun to watch and that was a good thing for our team. We can kind of remember that feeling and remember the way we played and what worked because it was a clinic in overtime for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hagel was asked about his Gordie Howe hat trick after scoring his third goal of the series in the first period, dropping the gloves<\/a> and a couple of rights against Game 1 star Juraj Slafkovsky five minutes into the second period, and assisting on Nikita Kucherov\u2019s goal at 12:33 of the third period that tied the game at two.<\/p>\n \u201cI never really would have expected that,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s good. Obviously, whatever it takes to win. Sometimes it\u2019s going to take a fight and sometimes it is going to take scoring goals.\u201d<\/p>\n The fact Slafkovsky had only one shot on goal after the fight may or may not have been a byproduct of the emotion Hagel brought to the rink, something that was evident from the get-go. <\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone in the room knows we\u2019re good when we play with emotion,\u201d said Hagel, whose team will play the third and fourth games of the series at the Bell Centre, where as a member of Team Canada he energized the crowd<\/a> in going at it with Team USA\u2019s Matthew Tkachuk off the opening faceoff during last year\u2019s 4 Nations tourney. \u201cNot just myself, but guys are willing to try to bring everyone into the (battle), and that is kind of what I was trying to do. Obviously, it worked. It is going to be like this the entire series. I am excited to get to Montreal.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lightning are feeling much better about going to Montreal tied in the series instead of facing a size-two hole. <\/p>\n