2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs
After ‘Tough Night,’ Maurice Expects Ekblad to ‘Be Great Tonight’
FORT LAUDERDALE — Aaron Ekblad, like every other athlete, has had rough games before. He usually bounces right back.
The Florida Panthers expect nothing less tonight when they play host to the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at 7:30 (ESPN).
Monday night was a tough one for the Florida defenseman. His turnover deep in the zone went right onto the stick of David Pastrnak and led to Boston’s game-tying goal at 12:52 of the second period.
Ekblad ended the night minus-2 as he was on the ice for three of Boston’s five goals and one for the Panthers.
Paul Maurice was not in the mood to discuss Ekblad’s game after the 5-1 loss in Game 1, simply saying, “He’s a Florida Panther, and I love every inch of him. He’ll be better next game like the rest of us.”
Maurice went more in-depth on Wednesday morning — although the sentiment was essentially the same.
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After all, Ekblad was coming off a big series against the Lightning.
Since arriving as the No. 1 pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, he has been one of Florida’s top defensemen.
Last year, while battling through numerous injuries, he was famously called out during a home game by pro golfer and Panthers fan Brooks Koepka.
Not only did Koepka and Ekblad make peace thanks in part to Ryan Lomberg, but Ekblad finished last season strong and was solid defensively throughout the playoffs, even as he played through injuries that required surgery not long after the postseason run ended.
“I expect him to be really good,” Maurice said Wednesday. He was really, really good in the Tampa series for us with his gap closures. We really missed him in the back half of the year. He got hurt in the Calgary game and played one or two more games for us, but we missed him for about six to eight weeks there. You could see it in our record.
“He had a tough night. He was not alone in it. Certain things were obvious. I expect him to be great.’’
As for the heat Ekblad has been getting on social media, Maurice said it is part of the playoff animal.
“We’re in playoff mode, and so are you guys,’’ he said. “It’s not a condemnation because we need you to be make this as exciting as you possibly can or we’re going to be holding this in outdoor rinks and no one is going to come.
“It’s extremes. A goalie gets a shutout, and ‘my Lord, give him a 10-year deal.’ A player is minus-3, he’s not making the team next year. That’s what this is all about, that’s why the juice is way better in the playoff than any other time.
“He had a tough night and I expect him to be great tonight. The extremes, I understand. But I do not feel extreme right now.”
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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
FLORIDA PANTHERS (ATL1) V. BOSTON BRUINS (ATL2)
BOSTON LEADS BEST-OF-7 SERIES 1-0
GAME 2
- When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- National TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+/Hulu
- Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL app
- Series Schedule — Game 1: Bruins 5, Panthers 1; Game 2: Wednesday at Florida, 7:30 (ESPN); Game 3: Friday at Boston, 7 (TNT); Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at Boston, 6:30 (TBS); Game 5*: Tuesday May 14 at Florida, TBA; Game 6*: Friday May 17 at Boston, TBA; Game 7*: Sunday May 19 at Florida TBA. (*) – If Necessary
- How They Got Here: Florida d. Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1; Boston d. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3
- Florida’s First Round — Game 1: Panthers 3, Tampa Bay 2; Game 2: Florida 3, Tampa Bay 2 OT; Game 3: Panthers 5, Tampa Bay 3; Game 4: Tampa Bay 6, Panthers 3; Game 5: Panthers 6, Tampa Bay 1.
- Last Season vs. Boston — Regular Season: Tied 2-2; Playoffs: Florida won 4-3 (first-round)
- This Season (Bruins 4-0) — At Boston: Bruins 3, Panthers 2 OT (Oct.30); Bruins 3, Panthers 2 OT (Ap. 6). At Florida: Bruins 3, Panthers 1 (Nov. 22); Bruins 4, Panthers 3 (March 26).
- All-time Regular Season Series: Boston leads 64-37-7, 6 ties
- All-time Postseason Series: Florida leads 2-0 (1996 1st, 2023 1st)
OK I’m gonna go ahead and say it and it’s probably not gonna be popular. It’s been more than one game. IMO He is a liability on the defensive end, and hasn’t brought anything on the offensive side of the Puck for at least a year now. Based on the numbers, and quite frankly, the eye test, we were a much better defensive team at the start of the season with ballinski and Mahora platooning for that spot when he and Montour were hurt. The numbers are really not even close. I know he’s a popular guy amongst the fan… Read more »
Also wanted to add, I really hope we buy him out this summer. It’s time.
He has been a step behind for a while now, time to move on, hopefully we can trade and keep some of his salary but use remaining to sign Montour to the contract he deserves.
Unfortunately, DG, he has a full no move clause. Any trade would require Ekblad to waive that, and i dont see that happening. Our only option, short of him retiring on his own, would be a “buy out”.
It may not be a popular opinion but I’ve thought this for a while now. Ekblad is a model Panther and has been so good for our franchise but his play on the ice has been declining rapidly. He is out of position and often times makes decisions that leave me screaming at the TV or ice (when there). His ‘no look’ passes drive me nuts. I heard Maurice’s comments today about how fans are overreacting but I don’t think so. This isn’t a one game thing. GOD “surveyjay”, everything you said is spot on! It is exactly what I… Read more »