The Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead. While they are on the brink of sending their rivals home, they may be without a top defenseman. Aaron Ekblad is facing a suspension after a big hit on Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. The Department of Player Safety announced a hearing for Ekblad on Tuesday.

“Aaron Ekblad will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday,” a league release read. “The Florida Panthers defenseman is facing discipline for elbowing against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel on Monday. The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: elbowing. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.”

Related Florida Panthers NewsArticle continues below
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour gestures as he speaks to his players and assistant coach Jeff Daniels in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour warns players about Panthers’ antics
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice during the post game media conference following a win in game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Paul Maurice pours cold water on Panthers despite Game 1 blowout win
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends against Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov (37) during the third period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center.
Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky downplays knee to head in Game 1

Hagel left the game and did not return after the second-period collision. Ekblad was not penalized for the hit, which sometimes comes into consideration when determining a suspension. The Department of Player Safety could have passed on a suspension if Ekblad had been tossed from the game. But he was not, which could lead to a suspension.

The Panthers were without Ekblad for the final 18 regular-season games and the first two games of the playoffs due to a PED suspension. While the team struggled down the stretch, they did win both postseason games without him to start the series. If he is suspended for Game 5, that does not eliminate any chance of them winning.

The Lightning will be without Hagel for the game, who is still dealing with the injury stemming from the hit. Hagel was already suspended in this series for a Game 2 hit on Aleksander Barkov. Without him, the Lightning won their only game of the series so far. The Battle of Florida could end on Wednesday, when the teams lock horns in Tampa.