Overview

• Aaron Ekblad, in his playoff debut after a 20-game suspension, delivered a high forearm hit to Brandon Hagel during Game 4 of the Panthers-Lightning series.
• Hagel, who had recently returned from a one-game suspension for a high hit on Aleksander Barkov, left the ice and went down the tunnel following the hit.
• The hit on Hagel went unpenalized, raising questions about the consistency of NHL officiating in handling physical play during the playoffs.
• Shortly after the incident, the Lightning capitalized on the ensuing chaos, scoring two goals in 11 seconds to temporarily take a 2-1 lead in the game.
• Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice praised Ekblad ahead of the series, calling him an 'elite defenseman' and emphasizing his peak physical condition post-suspension.