Brandon Hagel is on cloud 9 at the moment. He starred for Canada as they lifted the 4 Nations trophy, defeating their rivals, the United States. It was a monumental feat for them in a game that was filled with not just hockey tensions but political ones too. And it looks like Hagel is continuing to ride high as he achieved a unique feat for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL.

During the game against the Washington Capitals earlier this month, Hagel scored his 30th goal this season. However, what was interesting to note is that he did so without scoring any power-play goals, a feat rarely seen in the NHL. With this, he became just the third player in the history of the league to do so and the first one since Doug Smail in the 1984-85 season. The first player to achieve this feat was Rick Kehoe, who did this in the 1972-73 season. Furthermore, Hagel’s performance helped the Lightning defeat the Capitals 3-1 to remain in contention for the playoffs.

Brandon Hagel has been quite the newsworthy item of late after he took a dig at the American players for orchestrating a trio of fights at the 4 Nations Face-Off through a conversation on group chat. “I think we’re out there playing for the flag, not the cameras. That’s a part of Canada that we have in there. We don’t need to initiate anything. We don’t have any group chats going on,” Hagel told reporters.

But after having the last laugh at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Brandon Hagel has continued to have what’s shaping up to be a career-best season. And with his contributions, the Lightning are once again looking quite the formidable team.

Brandon Hagel is laser-focused on the ice

The 26-year-old showed great grit and determination to help his nation lift the 4 Nations trophy. Following Canada’s win, Hagel expressed his displeasure over a few of his opponents being involved in a group chat to orchestrate a fight. “We’re going out there playing our game and then giving it everything and doing it for our country. We don’t need to initiate everything. We’re just going to play as hard as we can and do it for the flag on the chest.”

But the 4 Nations Face-Off is over, and now Brandon Hagel’s full attention is on the Lightning. The team was undefeated in regulation since January, up until their 2-1 loss to the Panthers, and Hagel’s contributions were no doubt vital; it’s not just about the 30 goals; it’s also about the fact that he’s been recording points in almost all their last 9 games, with eight goals and six assists.

Now the 8-game win streak may be over, but the Lightning, as it stands, look primed to make the playoffs with a comfortable 8-point lead in the standings over the next best team, the Detroit Red Wings. But Brandon Hagel isn’t taking anything for granted. “(You can’t get) comfortable because that can change quick and, obviously, everyone in the East continues to win,” he said. “There’s still no time to take a step back.”

As the regular season slowly starts to wind down, Hagel’s words have never held truer. It’s crunch time for most NHL teams who aren’t, say, the Winnipeg Jets or the Washington Capitals right now, a time when their playoff dreams float away or become reality. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Brandon Hagel are doing well right now but as Hagel so aptly put, they cannot afford to take their pedal off the metal if they still want to be in the conversation come Spring.