The Florida Panthers are getting healthier in time for a showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Head coach Paul Maurice confirmed that defenceman Aaron Ekblad will be good to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ekblad has been sidelined since April 2 with an undisclosed injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season. The 28-year-old has 18 points (four goals and 14 assists) in 50 games this season.
This will be the third playoff meeting between the Lightning and Panthers. They first met in 2021, with Tampa Bay winning the series in six games, then again in 2022, where Florida would be swept in four games in Round 2 despite coming into the series as the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Watch Game 1 between the Panthers and Lightning on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
