Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is facing another suspension after knocking Lightning winger Brandon Hagel out of last night’s Game 4 with a high hit, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet was first to report. It’s a phone hearing with the Department of Player Safety, so he’s ineligible to be suspended for longer than five games.
Midway through the second period, Ekblad came down the halfwall to deliver a check to Hagel. Instead of making body-on-body contact, Ekblad raised his forearm to contact Hagel’s head, forcing the latter into concussion protocol. He did not return to the game, nor was Ekblad penalized on the play, in what many chastised as a missed call. Florida scored three goals in the final four minutes of the game to win 4-2 and take a 3-1 series lead, with Ekblad scoring the game-tying goal.
While the hit itself likely warrants a second look for supplemental discipline regardless of the context, the length of Ekblad’s likely pending suspension could be increased if DoPS determines it was a retaliatory hit. Hagel had just returned to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for interference against Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
Ekblad wasn’t the only Panthers defenseman to lay a controversial hit in Game 4. Niko Mikkola was ejected from the game early in the third period and given a major penalty for boarding Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons. He won’t face a suspension, though. DoPS announced Tuesday he’s been fined $5,000 for the play but won’t have a hearing.
The 29-year-old Ekblad had just returned from a 20-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances rules in Game 3 of the series. His goal was his first point since returning. He posted a minus-three rating across Games 3 and 4 while averaging 21:16 of ice time.
Clearly head hunting, clearly retribution, clearly an illegal hit to the head. This one should be a layup for the DOPS. But, considering Parros has worms in his brain, Ekblad will probably get off scot-free.
probably not
He’ll get one or two, rightfully so based on precedent. Really wish the DoPS would come down hard on these, but ain’t gonna happen with the meatheads in charge there
given that its the playoffs only a hit as bad as Raffi Torres on Hossa or Aaron Rome on Horton would be longer, im guessing 1 game unless the severity of Hagel’s injury is longer term, going based off of how long Hagel was suspended for the hit on Barkov being 1 game
The Panthers and Caps are both out here fighting to become the new dirtiest team in the league.
Tom Wilson would disagree.
I don’t like the guy, but he hasn’t been dirty.
Ekblad just came back from suspension lol
The league will give Ekblad a high-five, tell him to be nice and not to do it again!
My guess is suspended for the rest of the series regardless of how long it goes.
Hagel just has a glass jaw. 1 game no mire . Tampa should just stop crying. Whiniest little biach of a team ever
You’re a POS. STFU you pathetic basement dwelling troll. You’re such a hypocritical dumbass.
Can’t wait for game 7 and see the Panther meltdown about how their own stupidity and lack of discipline cost them a series.
So the Department of Player Safety will finally do something about the dirty & lowball play of Florida but it takes a serious injury to Brandon Hagel to make it happen?!? What an absolute joke! The Department of Player Safety is utter crap. The drug addict Aaron Ekblad should face heavy punishment for head hunting but will probably only get 1 game suspension. Niko Mikkola should have faced a suspension too for his head shot to Zemgus Girgensons but instead just gets a slap on the wrist. The NHL is so incompetent on this.
Panthers are just a POS team & the Florida fans that cheered an injury to Hagel is disgusting which shows what kind of classless scumbag fans they have for their team.
can you show me that same energy you had after game 2? I’ll wait (for those wondering this guy is a massive Tampa homer who can’t handle his team can’t hang with the champs)
@jeremyn – you’re an ignorant buffoon.
Love the Panther fans. They win one cup and they act like they are the 85 Oilers.
Ekblad the cheater will sit the rest of the series. Mikola targeted the head as well.
Hagel at least hit his guy shoulder to shoulder..like a man would….
The Panthers bad boy schtik is getting played out.
Shows just how soft this game has become, none of these guys could survive in hockey pre-2000.