Hagel Brings the Hat Trick, Lightning Bring Home a 5-3 Win Over Islanders

_coverage presented by Bud Light_

Hagel supplied the fireworks

Brandon Hagel had himself a night, and Tampa Bay had the finish to make it count. The Lightning beat the New York Islanders 5-3 at UBS Arena on October 10, riding Hagel’s three goals and four points through a game that got considerably messier before it got comfortable on the scoreboard.

This wasn’t a wire-to-wire cruise. Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead out of the first period, watched New York score three times in the second, then won the third period 2-0. A strong start, a serious wobble, and a winning response. Plenty to enjoy; plenty to keep the victory lap honest.

For the Tampa Bay crowd following along with our Lightning coverage, the headline is simple: Hagel delivered the star turn, but the closing period made this a win rather than a wasted performance.

How it happened: a lead, a reset, a response

The opening period belonged to the Lightning on the scoreboard. Two Tampa Bay goals, none for the Islanders. A 2-0 road lead is a fine way to get a building’s attention without asking permission.

Then New York pushed back. The Islanders scored all three of their goals in the second period, while Tampa Bay added one. That erased the Lightning’s opening cushion and sent the teams into the third tied 3-3. Whatever comfort Tampa Bay had earned early was gone.

That middle period matters to an honest reading of this result. The Lightning didn’t simply overwhelm an opponent and coast home. New York turned a two-goal deficit into an even game, and Tampa Bay had to answer after the reset.

The answer was decisive: two Lightning goals in the third, zero for the Islanders, and no overtime required. The ESPN game page carries the final accounting, but the period totals tell the essential story: Tampa Bay started ahead, got dragged back, and finished ahead.

Player of the night: no argument necessary

Hagel’s three goals and four points make this an easy call. In a game Tampa Bay won 5-3, his production was central to the outcome, not a decorative bonus attached to an already-settled result.

A hat trick is the headline-grabber. The four-point total adds another layer: this was more than a finishing showcase. When one player’s name keeps appearing in the offensive accounting of a tight game, that’s the kind of night worth lingering over.

Maxwell Crozier also deserves room in the recap with two assists. Hagel gets the marquee, but Crozier’s contribution belongs in the conversation about how Tampa Bay generated enough offense to survive that second period.

Across the ice, Tony DeAngelo finished with one goal and two points, while Ondrej Palat recorded two assists. Those numbers underline that New York had meaningful offensive contributors of its own. This wasn’t Hagel performing against an empty stage.

The numbers: closer than the celebration

The Lightning won the shot count 26-23, but several other categories leaned toward New York. That’s useful perspective before anybody turns a two-goal win into a tale of total domination.

• Tampa Bay scored on 1 of 4 power-play opportunities, a 25.0% conversion rate.
• New York scored on 1 of 2 power-play opportunities, finishing at 50.0%.
• The Islanders led 30-18 in hits and 16-14 in blocked shots.
• Tampa Bay recorded 5 takeaways to New York’s 2.
• Faceoffs were nearly even: 26 wins for New York, 25 for Tampa Bay.

The power-play distinction is worth keeping straight. New York was more efficient, but each team produced one power-play goal. Tampa Bay’s additional opportunities did not create an advantage in actual power-play scoring.

And the hits? New York had the bigger total. Tampa Bay had the bigger final score. Physical activity and winning hockey can overlap, but they aren’t interchangeable measurements.

What it means: the finish earns the cheers

The best part of this win wasn’t merely building a 2-0 lead. It was delivering a 2-0 third period after that lead disappeared. That’s the response Tampa Bay fans can celebrate without pretending the second period never happened.

Keep the conclusions proportional: a 5-3 win, a Hagel hat trick, and a strong closing period. There’s enough good stuff right there without inflating it into a grand declaration. Bring that version of the conversation to the Pinellas Podcast community: loud about the finish, honest about the turbulence.

What's next: Check the Lightning’s upcoming schedule for their next matchup.

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