Aaron Ekblad suspension, explained: Panthers defenseman banished two games after controversial hit vs. Lightning

The NHL has suspended Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for two games following his hit on Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Game 4. That means that Ekblad will miss Game 5 in Tampa Bay and either Game 6 against the Lightning or Game 1 of the second round if Florida advances in five.

On Monday night in Game 4, Ekblad hit Hagel's head and neck area with his forearm and elbow, ultimately injuring the forward. However, Ekblad wasn't penalized on the play, which angered Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.

Jon Cooper was IRATE after no penalty was called on this play against Aaron Ekblad 😳 pic.twitter.com/xbuSCR0p8T

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 29, 2025

That hit occurred when the Lightning were up 2-1 on Florida needing a win to tie the series. Ekblad would go on to the game-tying goal as the Panthers won the game 4-2 to go up 3-1 in the series.

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The incident was only the latest in what has been a chippy series with many questionable hits. In Game 2, Hagel himself illegally hit Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, resulting in his own one-game suspension.

Brandon Hagel has been given a 5-minute major for this hit on Aleksander Barkov pic.twitter.com/xn6RQcTqS2

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 25, 2025

Additionally, in Game 4, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his hit on Zemgus Girgensons. However, while NHL Player Safety fined Mikkola $50,000 for the hit, it did not suspend him any games.

Niko Mikkola receives a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding on Zemgus Girgensons. pic.twitter.com/XNWwW5EKSm

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2025

Aaron Ekblad suspension, explained

After reviewing Ekblad's hit on Monday night, NHL Player Safety determined that the Panthers defenseman would get a two-game suspension, which will be served in this playoffs. The panel decided that Ekblad's hit was high enough that the veteran defenseman should sit for multiple games.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 29, 2025

For Ekblad to be suspended, the NHL had to decide whether he hit Hagel in the head, which Player Safety ultimately deemed to be true.

This will be Ekblad's second suspension of the season, as he previously sat for 20 games after testing positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs.