Panthers' Ekblad suspended 2 games for elbowing Hagel

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended two games for elbowing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Game 4, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.

Ekblad caught Hagel up high with his forearm in the second period of Monday's contest, and the latter's head hit the ice on the way down.

Ekblad wasn't penalized on the play, but Hagel was unable to return to the contest and was eventually ruled out for Game 5 on Wednesday.

"This is not a case where a blow to an opponent's torso or shoulder rides up and makes subsequent or glancing contact with his head," the league explained in a video. "This is a direct blow to an opponent's head with an extended elbow delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline."

Ekblad ended up scoring the 2-2 equalizer in the third period Monday, and Seth Jones scored the eventual game-winner in Florida's 4-2 victory 11 seconds later.

This is the second suspension of Ekblad's career and first for on-ice actions.

The rearguard has played in just two contests in the first-round series between the state rivals after serving a 20-game ban for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program back in March.

Panthers blue-liner Niko Mikkola was ejected from Game 4 after boarding Zemgus Girgensons, but he avoided a suspension and was fined $5,000.

Florida holds a 3-1 series lead.