Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers has been handed a two-game suspension for elbowing Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game 4. This comes right after Ekblad's return from a prior 20-game suspension linked to a PED violation. The controversial play occurred in the second period, where Ekblad's elbow made contact with Hagel’s head. Despite no penalty being called during the game, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety deemed the hit serious enough for suspension. This decision leaves the Panthers without one of their key defensemen while Hagel’s status remains uncertain as he was also ruled out for Game 5.

The Panthers have shown they can compete against the Lightning without Ekblad, having won both previous games in Tampa while he served his initial suspension. However, with Hagel missing, the Lightning will face challenges as they look to claw back from a 3-1 series deficit. As each team grapples with these absences, the rivalry between the two in-state teams continues to heat up.