Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel went after Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in a chaotic game Sunday that had 96 combined penalty minutes before the midway mark.
Hagel got tied up with Dahlin and started throwing punches at the Sabres star 3:35 into the second period. Hagel was assessed a double minor for roughing and remained in the game.
Hagel jumps Dahlin and more chaos ensures. #LetsGoBuffalo #Sabrehood #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/hD5UkJsEBM
— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) March 8, 2026
The fisticuffs began less than five minutes into the game when Hagel hit Sabres star Tage Thompson as the whistle blew. The melee resulted in Dahlin and Darren Raddysh dropping the gloves. Hagel was given a minor penalty for boarding.
Things get feisty QUICK between the Tampa Bay and Buffalo 👀 pic.twitter.com/qQ2ioPUxMO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026
Sabres’ recent pickup Sam Carrick fought Lightning enforcer Scott Sabourin in a short tussle later on.
SAM CARRICK DROPS THE GLOVES WITH SCOTT SABOURIN FOR A QUICK BOUT 🥊 pic.twitter.com/ZmnemlBosp
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 8, 2026
Less than 30 seconds later, Hagel and Peyton Krebs threw down. Bowen Byram and Charle-Edouard D’Astous were also handed 10-minute misconducts and roughing penalties on the sequence.
The Sabres’ penalty box is looking a little crowded 😅 pic.twitter.com/mc2RvYleP8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026
The rough stuff carried into the second period, as Michael Kesselring dropped the gloves with Erik Cernak off the opening draw. The two tried to fight in the first period, but it was broken up by the officials.
KESSELRING AND CERNAK DROP THE GLOVES ON THE OPENING DRAW IN THE 2ND 🥊 pic.twitter.com/TwyJPOzw2s
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) March 8, 2026
Four seconds later, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn and Lightning deadline day re-acquisition Corey Perry went at it.
TWO SECONDS IN AND THE GLOVES ARE OFF YET AGAIN 💥 pic.twitter.com/U7iefTDzkg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026
The Lightning and Sabres are both in playoff positions in the Atlantic Division.
