Aaron Ekblad Suspended for Elbowing Incident in Playoffs

In a significant development during the NHL playoffs, Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has received a two-game suspension following an incident involving Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. The suspension was announced by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety after a phone hearing with Ekblad.

Details of the Incident

The incident occurred midway through Game 4 of the first-round series, where Ekblad elbowed Hagel in the head while attempting to play the puck. The hit, which took place late in the second period with less than nine minutes remaining, went unpenalized during the game. Following the collision, Hagel left the ice and did not return to play.

Impact on the Series

Despite the incident, Ekblad scored a critical goal during the third period, helping the Panthers secure a comeback victory and take a 3-1 lead in the series. With this suspension, Ekblad will miss Game 5 and potentially Game 6 of the series, or the Panthers’ first game in the next round. Coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Hagel would not be available for Game 5.

Previous Suspensions

This is not the first time Ekblad has faced disciplinary action; he was previously suspended for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, which led him to miss the final 18 games of the regular season. The Panthers have adapted to playing without him and have established a familiarity regarding defensive pair adjustments in his absence, as noted by Coach Paul Maurice.

Additional Incidents

Another disciplinary action during Game 4 involved Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, who was fined $5,000 for boarding Tampa Bay’s Zemgus Girgensons. Mikkola received a five-minute major penalty and was ejected from the game, adding further complications to Florida’s defensive lineup.