Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper voiced his frustration over the events taking place in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers.
Cooper was visibly frustrated when asked about Brandon Hagel’s exit from Monday’s game following an unpenalized hit from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
The collision, which occurred midway through the second period, left Hagel on the ice after taking a high elbow to the head. No penalty was called, and Hagel did not return.
Cooper, speaking in the postgame press conference, did not hold back while challenging reporters to be the ones pointing out what’s going on.
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” Cooper said. “Why are you asking me the question?
”If anyone in here has something [to say], stand up and let me know.”
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game.”
Jon Cooper on Aaron Ekblad’s hit on Brandon Hagel. pic.twitter.com/mxZ74n1w7K
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2025
Ekblad’s hit came just after Hagel returned from his own one-game suspension. Hagel was handed the suspension after a late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2.
Asked about the Game 4 incident, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice declined to engage, avoiding escalating the situation.
“I don’t want to use this platform to start making my case on this,” Maurice said. “Everybody’s got a job to deal with, I’ll just stay in my lane.”
The hit sparked a Lightning reaction as Tampa Bay went on to retake the lead with back-to-back goals in a span of 11 seconds, going up 2-1.
Florida, however, took control in the third period, with goals from Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Carter Verhaeghe securing a 4-2 victory and a 3-1 series lead.
The Panthers now head to Tampa with a chance to close out the series in Game 5.
Related: Lightning Captain Sends Clear Message on Impact of Aaron Ekblad’s Hit
Related: NHL Experts Clash Over Possible Suspension for Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper voiced his frustration over the events taking place in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers.
Cooper was visibly frustrated when asked about Brandon Hagel’s exit from Monday’s game following an unpenalized hit from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
The collision, which occurred midway through the second period, left Hagel on the ice after taking a high elbow to the head. No penalty was called, and Hagel did not return.
Cooper, speaking in the postgame press conference, did not hold back while challenging reporters to be the ones pointing out what’s going on.
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” Cooper said. “Why are you asking me the question?
”If anyone in here has something [to say], stand up and let me know.”
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game.”
Jon Cooper on Aaron Ekblad’s hit on Brandon Hagel. pic.twitter.com/mxZ74n1w7K
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2025
Ekblad’s hit came just after Hagel returned from his own one-game suspension. Hagel was handed the suspension after a late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2.
Asked about the Game 4 incident, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice declined to engage, avoiding escalating the situation.
“I don’t want to use this platform to start making my case on this,” Maurice said. “Everybody’s got a job to deal with, I’ll just stay in my lane.”
The hit sparked a Lightning reaction as Tampa Bay went on to retake the lead with back-to-back goals in a span of 11 seconds, going up 2-1.
Florida, however, took control in the third period, with goals from Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Carter Verhaeghe securing a 4-2 victory and a 3-1 series lead.
The Panthers now head to Tampa with a chance to close out the series in Game 5.
Related: Lightning Captain Sends Clear Message on Impact of Aaron Ekblad’s Hit
Related: NHL Experts Clash Over Possible Suspension for Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk
