Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel knocks down Montréal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský 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)

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Enough was enough. That is what Brandon Hagel said following the Lightning’s 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.

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.

“I think everyone kind on knew that, in the dressing room going into overtime, we know what works,” said Hagel. “That 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.”

Hagel was asked about his Gordie Howe hat trick after scoring his third goal of the series in the first period, dropping the gloves and a couple of rights against Game 1 star Juraj Slafkovsky five minutes into the second period, and assisting on Nikita Kucherov’s goal at 12:33 of the third period that tied the game at two.

“I never really would have expected that,” he said. “It’s good. Obviously, whatever it takes to win. Sometimes it’s going to take a fight and sometimes it is going to take scoring goals.”

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.

“I think everyone in the room knows we’re good when we play with emotion,” 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 in going at it with Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk off the opening faceoff during last year’s 4 Nations tourney. “Not 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.”

The Lightning are feeling much better about going to Montreal tied in the series instead of facing a size-two hole.

“Going up there and being down 0-2, your margin of error keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller,” said coach Jon Cooper, who earlier this season delivered much praise to No. 38. “At least we kept our margin of error the same. If not, we’ve given ourselves a little bit better of a chance.”

As Cooper noted, Martin St. Louis’ team is feeling pretty good about how it played in getting a road split while the Bolts feel it is “a damn good thing we won this last game.”

“Everybody can factor in whatever narrative they want to make about going up (to Montreal) 1-1, but let’s be honest, an 0-2 hole would not have been fun,” said Cooper.

That is not a concern as his team looks forward to Game 3 in Montreal on Friday.

“Nobody said it was going to be easy,” said Corey Perry. “They had 106 points. We had 106 points and the two teams match up well against each other. That is what the playoffs are all about.”