Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brandon Hagel was sidelined for Game 5 against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round. An elbow to the head from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad in Game 4 that left Hagel out cold and the Lightning scrambling. It all went down in the second period of Florida’s 4-2 win on Monday. At 11:20, Ekblad caught Hagel with a high elbow, forcing the Lightning forward to leave the game and not return. The hit sparked immediate controversy—no penalty was called on the play, and Ekblad even scored the game-tying goal later in the match. But the NHL Department of Player Safety didn’t let it slide, handing Ekblad a two-game suspension the next day. Lightning coach Jon Cooper was upset, “He’s not playing tomorrow. There it is, and you know why.”

This isn’t Hagel’s first brush with drama in the series. He was suspended for Game 3 after a hard check on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2, earning a five-minute major for interference. Barkov left that game, and the Panthers won 2-0. The physicality of this series has been relentless, overshadowing the stellar play from both teams. Cooper noted the rough stuff is stealing the spotlight from what’s been a fiercely competitive matchup.

The hits keep coming, literally. On Tuesday, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 for ramming Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons’ head into the boards while he was down on his knees in Game 4. Mikkola received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the incident. Girgensons appeared shaken up but managed to return to the game, showing the resilience this series demands.

Meanwhile, the Panthers aren’t unscathed. Ekblad’s suspension could shake up their blue line, especially if the Department of Player Safety’s ruling keeps their top-pairing defenseman out. With both teams nursing key losses, Game 5 is shaping up to be a turning point. Can the Lightning rally without Hagel to keep their playoff hopes alive? Or will Florida capitalize and close it out? One thing’s for sure—this series is delivering chaos, and the drama’s far from over.

Aaron Ekblad gets two-game suspension for elbowing Brandon Hagel

The Florida Panthers are poised to potentially eliminate their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Game 5 of their playoff series on Wednesday night. However, they’ll face this critical matchup without key defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has been suspended for two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety (DOPS) for elbowing Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Game 4.

The incident occurred during a fiercely contested game, emblematic of the physicality that has defined this series. The Panthers-Lightning rivalry has consistently delivered hard-hitting action, with both teams pushing the boundaries of legality. Ekblad’s elbow to Hagel, however, crossed the line, and a reverse-angle replay provided clear evidence that prompted the DOPS to act decisively. The suspension means Ekblad will miss Game 5 and either Game 6 or Game 1 of the next round, depending on the series outcome.

Ekblad, who recently returned from a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, has been a significant presence on Florida’s blue line. Through the first four games, he’s recorded one goal, a -3 rating, and averaged 21:16 of ice time per game. His absence will force the Panthers to rely on a less experienced defensive corps, potentially giving Tampa Bay an opportunity to exploit mismatches and claw back from their 3-1 series deficit.

While Ekblad’s suspension is a setback, the Panthers have the depth to adapt. Players like Gustav Forsling and Dmitry Kulikov will likely see increased minutes, and the team’s forward group, led by stars like Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, remains a formidable threat. For Tampa Bay, this could be a lifeline to extend the series, but they’ll need to capitalize on Florida’s adjusted lineup and overcome their own challenges, including injuries and fatigue.

The DOPS’s ruling, while straightforward, underscores the fine line between physical play and reckless behavior in playoff hockey. As the Panthers aim to close out the series, all eyes will be on how they adjust without one of their top defenders.