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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hagel jumps Dahlin and more chaos ensures. #LetsGoBuffalo<\/a> #Sabrehood<\/a> #GoBolts<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hD5UkJsEBM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Things get feisty QUICK between the Tampa Bay and Buffalo \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/qQ2ioPUxMO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Sabres’ recent pickup Sam Carrick fought Lightning enforcer Scott Sabourin in a short tussle later on.<\/p>\n SAM CARRICK DROPS THE GLOVES WITH SCOTT SABOURIN FOR A QUICK BOUT \ud83e\udd4a pic.twitter.com\/ZmnemlBosp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Sabres’ penalty box is looking a little crowded \ud83d\ude05 pic.twitter.com\/mc2RvYleP8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n KESSELRING AND CERNAK DROP THE GLOVES ON THE OPENING DRAW IN THE 2ND \ud83e\udd4a pic.twitter.com\/TwyJPOzw2s<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Four seconds later, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn and Lightning deadline day re-acquisition Corey Perry went at it.<\/p>\n TWO SECONDS IN AND THE GLOVES ARE OFF YET AGAIN \ud83d\udca5 pic.twitter.com\/U7iefTDzkg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Lightning and Sabres are both in playoff positions in the Atlantic Division.<\/p>\n