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The Florida Panthers’ Game 4 victory has been overshadowed by a controversial hit from defenseman Aaron Ekblad on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. The incident has sparked widespread reaction across the NHL community. Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said he was tired of talking about a hit every game, but others have been much more vocal.
In a tense and increasingly hostile playoff series, emotions boiled over when Ekblad delivered a high forearm shiver to Hagel, sending him down the tunnel. Despite the dangerous and seemingly intentional nature of the hit, no penalty was assessed on the play — a decision that left many, including Cooper, stunned.
The retaliation appeared to stem from Hagel’s late hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 3, for which Hagel was suspended one game. However, Ekblad’s response has sparked a fierce debate about player safety and officiating in this year’s postseason.
Former NHL defenseman Chris Pronger weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Have seen this forearm shiver a number of times but usually not from this position. I would need more angles but this looks like a forearm to the chin. And completely in Ekblad’s control to avoid the head. The fact there was NO penalty is a tough look. Might get a DoPS call.”
Analyst Justin Bourne of Sportsnet also criticized the hit, saying, “I think it’s a bad hit,” and speculated Ekblad could face a two-game suspension.
Are the playoffs getting out of control?
The "2 Mutts Hockey Podcast" revealed they spoke with seven active playoff players who expressed frustration with officiating.
“The refs are becoming a huge part of who wins on a nightly basis because of the calls they miss & the bad calls they are calling,” they wrote. “Players don’t know what game they are going to be playing in.”
Ryan Whitney, never one to hold back, wrote, “I can not believe Florida won that game. Ekblad could have been kicked out … What the hell did we just watch?”
This is not the only series that has gotten nasty. Fighting on the bench between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals might be the most viral moment of the first round thus far.
Despite the controversy, Ekblad stayed in the game and played a pivotal role in the Panthers’ comeback. Florida scored twice in 11 seconds — mirroring Tampa Bay’s earlier rally.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has yet to announce whether discipline will be handed down, but all eyes will be on how the league responds.
More must-reads:
- Stanley Cup playoffs takeaways: Controversial hit could lead to Aaron Ekblad suspension
- Watch: Panthers stun Lightning with two goals in 11 seconds to take 3-1 series lead
- The 'No. 1 overall draft picks in NHL history' quiz
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Longtime Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin receives high praise from GM
There may not be a more underappreciated player over the last 25 years in the NHL than Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center Evgeni Malkin. The 39-year-old has been in the shadow of fellow superstar center Sidney Crosby throughout his career in the Steel City. Crosby, deservedly so, has been the center of attention and focus of the hockey world on his journey to becoming one of the all-time greats. On the flip side, Malkin has undeservedly been overlooked because of his teammates' brilliance. Not being a part of the NHL’s top 100 players list back in 2017 stands out above them all. Despite that, one who won't stand for it is his current general manager, Kyle Dubas, who had quite the take he shared on "The Cam Strick Podcast" earlier this week. "Yeah, he’s probably the most underrated player, maybe to ever play," Dubas said. "Just because of the fact that he has always been a little bit in the shadow of Sid. But, at his best, one of, if not the best, players in the league. And he’s won everything you can win. Way more competitive, even at his age, than I think most people would ever give him credit for. He gets talked about the least, and he probably prefers it that way, but it’s been special to be around." Some may find Dubas' comments to be a stretch, but they aren't in the slightest. Like Crosby, Malkin is one of the greatest hockey players of all time, and the stats and accolades back it up in a big way. Malkin's 514 goals and 832 assists give him 1,346 career points through just 1,213 games played, ranking 31st among all players in league history. On an even more impressive note, he's racked up 15 seasons of producing at a point per game, demonstrating his consistent dominance every year. Only Crosby (20 seasons), longtime Oilers and Kings superstar center Wayne Gretzky (18 seasons) and Red Wings superstar right winger Gordie Howe (17 seasons) have done it more than Malkin. Along with all of the numbers and individual awards, the Russian superstar has elevated his play on the biggest stage when the pressure was at its highest. Malkin was a centerpiece in the Penguins' three Stanley Cup championships (2008-09, 2015-16, 2016-17) over nine years, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in the first victory. His postseason production isn't too shabby, either, with 67 goals and 113 assists for 180 points in 177 games for the 15th-best playoff numbers of all time. While Dubas said Malkin may prefer not being talked about, he deserves to be recognized for his excellence. As he heads into Year 20 and potentially his last in the NHL, fans should cherish every time Malkin steps onto the ice to provide a few more signature moments.
NFL under fire for decision on Chiefs WR Rashee Rice
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Big Brawl Ignited By Unexpected Steelers Player As Things Got Heated With Buccaneers
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Mets' playoff chances in jeopardy after latest tough loss
The New York Mets have been in a slump for a couple of weeks now, and it is putting their playoff chances in some serious jeopardy. After Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets have lost 13 of their past 15 games and have seen a once-comfortable lead in the wild-card race nearly completely disappear. Following Thursday's results, the Mets have the slimmest of leads over the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League, sitting just 0.5 games ahead of them. It is a stunning reversal from where things were just a little more than two weeks ago. On July 27, the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants to win their seventh game in a row and improve to 62-44 on the season. They were not only six games ahead of the Reds in the playoff race, but they were on top of the National League East (holding a 1.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies) and were just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League. Now all of that is gone. As of Thursday night, the Mets trail the Phillies by five games in the NL East, they are 12.5 games back of the Brewers for the top spot in the NL overall and now only have half a game of cushion over the Reds. They also have the St. Louis Cardinals (3.5 back) right behind them and gaining ground. Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to remain optimistic while also acknowledging they are not playing well. The Mets' bats have been a big source of frustration during this slump, but it's not the only issue. The bullpen has also been a major problem, and key trade-deadline addition Ryan Helsley contributed to that on Thursday by giving up two runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a 3-2 Mets lead into a 4-3 deficit. Whether it is the bats, the arms or the defense causing the problem, the common result remains the same — more losses. Now the Mets find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race, fighting for a spot. It was not that long ago that they seemed to be a playoff lock.
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