Aaron Ekblad, a key defenseman for the Florida Panthers, will be sidelined for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to a two-game suspension. His infraction occurred during Game 4, where he hit Tampa's Brandon Hagel in the head, leading to an injury. The NHL's Department of Player Safety stated that, despite Ekblad's lack of previous suspensions, the hit warranted significant disciplinary action.

In addition, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola received a $5,000 fine for boarding Lightning's Zemgus Girgensons in the same game. With Ekblad's absence, the Panthers will need to adjust their defensive pairings, relying on Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling to fill the void. Coach Paul Maurice remains confident in his team's ability to adapt, citing their experience managing player absences throughout the season.