Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The NHL is back from its holiday pause, the Panthers dive straight into the fire, hosting the Lightning in another heated chapter of a rivalry that won't cool off.
This is the third meeting between the two clubs this season, with the Panthers and Lightning splitting the first two games. While those matchups were relatively calm by historical standards, the underlying tension remains unmistakable. Tampa Bay enters the night one point ahead of Florida in a brutally tight Eastern Conference race, where even a short streak can swing playoff positioning dramatically.
At the heart of the animosity is Brandon Hagel.
The Lightning winger has become a lightning rod in this rivalry since his late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov during last season's playoffs, a play that earned Hagel a one-game suspension and sparked lingering resentment in the Florida room. When the series resumed, Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad responded with a high hit of his own, drawing a two-game suspension and igniting a war of words.
«Going down the wall there, I'm trying to make a hit every single time,» Ekblad said at the time. «I was aiming for his chest. I caught him in the chin, and that's unfortunate. It was not my intention.»
The wounds never fully healed.
Earlier this season, the bad blood resurfaced when Hagel exited a game against Florida after taking a hit from Seth Jones. No penalty was called, and the NHL did not issue supplemental discipline, but the moment only reinforced Hagel's place at the center of the rivalry. Hagel has been sidelined since that game and could return Saturday, adding another layer of intrigue.
Preseason did little to calm things down. Tampa Bay dressed a roster heavy with AHL muscle in one exhibition matchup, an apparent attempt at settling scores. The league responded with fines totaling $125,000, including $25,000 to coach Jon Cooper.
Despite the physical history, both teams insist they're focused on the standings. Panthers coach Paul Maurice has repeatedly refused to use injuries or emotions as excuses.
«Adversity is the best opportunity to find new things,» Maurice said earlier this season. «This is our team.»