Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

NHL Announces Multi-Game Suspension After Panthers-Lightning

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 30, 2025 5:29 AM ET

The Florida Panthers will have to face the Tampa Bay Lightning without one of their best player for the next two games, if the Bolts can extend the series past Game 5 on Wednesday.

Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will miss at least one game against the Lightning, depending on the next match result, after the NHL Department of Player Safety handed him a two-game suspension for elbowing Brandon Hagel in the head during Game 4.

The hit occurred midway through the second period of Monday’s 4–2 Florida win over Tampa Bay.

Hagel was playing the puck near the boards when Ekblad approached him from the right, raised his forearm, and delivered a direct blow to Hagel’s head. Hagel’s helmet struck the ice as he fell, and he left the game due to concussion concerns. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Aaron Ekblad has been suspended TWO games for this hit on Brandon Hagel pic.twitter.com/Y1wYRBEfnw
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 29, 2025

The league described the hit as “a direct blow to an opponent’s head with an extended elbow, delivered with requisite force.”

Ekblad was allowed to finish the game and later tied the score at 2-2 with under four minutes remaining. Seth Jones scored the winner 11 seconds later. In doing so, the pair of Panthers blueliners set a Stanley Cup Playoffs record.

“We’ve been through it with Aaron out,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said before the suspension was announced, anticipating the league's punishment. “Let’s assume he’s out of the lineup.”

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed Hagel will miss Game 5 before the league announced the suspension.

“Hagel’s not going to play,” Cooper said Tuesday.

The hit followed an earlier incident in the series when Hagel was suspended for a high hit on Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. That play forced Barkov to miss the remainder of the game.

The Panthers lead the series 3-1. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Tampa. If necessary, Ekblad would miss Game 6 or the first game of the next round, depending on Wednesday's outcome.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: