Aaron Ekblad suspended after high hit on Brandon Hagel during playoffs
- Aaron Ekblad received a two-game suspension for elbowing Brandon Hagel during Game 4.
- The hit resulted in Hagel leaving the game, and he will also miss Game 5.
- This series of events illustrates ongoing issues with player safety and discipline in the NHL.
In the ongoing first-round playoff series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, significant events unfolded during Game 4. Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad elbowed Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in the head midway through the second period, leaving Hagel unable to return for the remainder of the game. This hit occurred without a penalty being called at that moment in the match. Following a disciplinary hearing, the NHL's Department of Player Safety imposed a two-game suspension on Ekblad for his actions, rendering him unavailable for Game 5 of the series and potentially for Game 6 or the first game of the next round, depending on the series' progression. Earlier, Hagel himself had been suspended for one game for a late hit that had knocked Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov out of Game 2. This sequence of injuries and suspensions has added tension to an already intense playoff atmosphere, impacting both teams' strategies and performance. After the elbowing incident, Ekblad went on to score, contributing significantly to the Panthers' comeback victory in that game, leading to a 3-1 series advantage for Florida over Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Hagel would not be participating in Game 5 following the hit. The situation has raised implications regarding player safety and disciplinary actions in the league as both teams navigate the series amid heightened emotions and rivalries. Discipline within gameplay is a hot topic, especially as incidents like these shape the outcomes of playoff games and the health of players throughout the postseason.