Ekblad absent for Game 4 loss as Bobrovsky makes 1st start of series

The Florida Panthers looked a little different during their 6-2 Game 4 loss against the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Aaron Ekblad was scratched due to injury. The defenseman was hurt while colliding with Bruins blue-liner Charlie McAvoy in Game 3.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters Saturday that Ekblad was "feeling much better" before listing him as a game-time decision.

Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky got the nod in goal for the Panthers. The veteran netminder didn't start the first three games of the series, but he replaced starter Alex Lyon in Game 3, which Florida lost 4-2 to trail 2-1 in the first-round playoff series.

Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 30 shots for an .833 save percentage Sunday afternoon.

Florida turned to Lyon over the last few weeks of the regular season. The 30-year-old posted a 9-4-2 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average.

Bobrovsky's last start prior to Game 4 came on March 27, when he allowed four goals on 26 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Maurice explained his decision to switch goalies after Sunday's defeat.

"Alex has run long and hard, and there's mental and physical fatigue that comes with that. … (We) wanted to put the freshest goalie in net tonight," he said, per Bally Sports Florida's Katie Engleson.

Bobrovsky owned a .901 clip and 3.07 goals against average in 50 appearances during the regular season. The veteran netminder has an all-time record of 17-30 in the playoffs.