Panthers' Ekblad a game-time decision for Game 4
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be a game-time decision for Game 4 after suffering an undisclosed injury Friday, head coach Paul Maurice announced Saturday, per NHL.com's Jameson Olive.
"He came back in feeling much better today, and we'll need another day like that," he said. "It's that time of the series. Everybody's going to have some game-time decisions."
Ekblad participated in Saturday's optional practice in a regular jersey.
He sustained the ailment after a collision with Boston Bruins blue-liner Charlie McAvoy during the Panthers' 4-2 Game 3 loss.
Aaron Ekblad went down the tunnel and into the locker room after this hard collision with Charlie McAvoy#TimeToHunt | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/wiAAl6LsFe
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) April 22, 2023
Ekblad immediately went to the dressing room, but he returned moments later to play two more shifts in the second period. However, he missed the final six minutes of the middle frame and didn't return for the third period.
The 27-year-old has had difficulty staying healthy in recent years, missing 53 games over the past three seasons due to various ailments.
Ekblad had a down regular season by his standards, recording 14 goals and 24 assists in 71 games. He finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting last year, racking up 57 points in 61 contests.
Game 4 is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.