Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety after delivering a high, forceful elbow to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
The incident occurred late in the second period of Florida’s 4-2 win on Monday night. As Hagel cleared the puck out of the Tampa Bay zone near the boards, Ekblad skated in, pulled back his right arm, and landed a clear elbow to Hagel’s head. The Lightning forward fell to the ice, his head bouncing off the surface. He was removed from the game for concussion evaluation and did not return.
Ekblad wasn’t penalized on the play and stayed in the game. He later tied the score with under four minutes left in regulation, setting up Florida’s comeback before Seth Jones netted the winner seconds later.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper confirmed Hagel will not play in Game 5, saying, “He’s not playing tomorrow. And you know why.”
Ekblad argued in a Tuesday hearing that he didn’t intend to target the head. However, the NHL ruled the elbow was a direct and forceful blow, warranting supplemental discipline. It is Ekblad’s first suspension in his 11-season NHL career.
The 28-year-old missed the final 18 games of the regular season and the first two playoff games after being suspended without pay for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He returned for Game 3 and has played a key role since.
Hagel had just returned from his own one-game suspension for an illegal hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. Barkov missed the rest of that game but returned for Game 3.
With the Panthers leading the series 3-1, Ekblad will miss Game 5 and—if necessary—Game 6 or Florida’s first game of the next round.
“These are hard-fought series,” said Cooper. “The Battle of Florida has always been physical. This one just has bigger moments attached.”
Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
