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By Brennan Forsyth |

Panthers Ekblad Out ‘Indefinitely’ After Serious Knee Injury

Panthers Stars Hockey
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Saturday, March 27, 2021. The Florida Panthers won in overtime, 4-3. (AP Photo/Matt Strasen)

Florida Panthers star Aaron Ekblad is out for ‘an extensive time’ after suffering a knee injury during the Cats’ 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Ekblad had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher in the middle of the second period after a collision with Stars player Esa Lindell in the Dallas zone left him banging his head on the ice and writhing in pain as the Panthers medical staff tended to him. “You hear him scream too,” LW Jonathan Huberdeau said at a post-game press conference. “I mean, it must have hurt so bad.” Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville announced at the same conference that Ekblad was out indefinitely pending further evaluation of the injury on Monday. He adds to a growing list of injured Panthers players including captain Aleksander Barkov and forward Patric Hornqvist who is out for at least a week. Ekblad is currently tied for most goals for a defenseman this season with 11 and led the Panthers to a win over the Stars on Saturday after scoring the winning goal in overtime.