INJURY: Ekblad 'able to go' for Recreation 1 vs. Lightning | Florida Panthers – NHL.com

Cats may have a wholesome blue line heading into their collection with the Bolts
FORT LAUDERDALE – The Florida Panthers may have a key piece again on their blue line once they kick off their first-round playoff collection with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.
Out since April 2 with an undisclosed damage, defenseman Aaron Ekblad was deemed “able to go” for Recreation 1 by head coach Paul Maurice following Friday’s apply at Baptist Well being IcePlex.
“He would’ve performed final sport had it been a playoff sport,” Maurice mentioned.
In 51 video games this season, Ekblad has produced 18 factors (4 objectives, 14 assists), 85 hits and 59 blocks whereas averaging 20:52 of ice time per tilt. When he was on the ice at 5-on-5, the Panthers additionally boasted a 58.59% share of anticipated objectives, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
A real warrior throughout the run to the Stanley Cup Ultimate final season, Ekblad registered eight factors (two objectives, six assists) in 20 playoff video games whereas battling by way of varied accidents, together with an upper-body damage that required offseason surgical procedure and stored him out of the primary 16 video games this 12 months.
“Damaged bones, muscle tears, separated shoulders, ankle sprains, these are the exhausting issues,” Maurice mentioned. “It actually units an ordinary going ahead of what gamers are prepared to do and a belief between them that they’re prepared to sacrifice.”
Along with Ekblad, fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was additionally on the ice for at the moment’s apply and appears able to go for the playoffs after lacking the regular-season finale towards the Toronto Maple Leafs with an damage.
Puck drop for Recreation 1 between the Cats and Bolts will probably be at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
For a full schedule, tickets and extra, go to FloridaPanthers.com/Playoffs.

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