Aaron Ekblad returns to the Florida Panthers lineup against the San Jose Sharks after missing seven games due to an upper-body injury. Head coach Paul Maurice emphasized Ekblad's vital role in the team's defensive structure and penalty kill. He leads Florida's defensemen in assists and points despite his absence. The Panthers have struggled recently, sitting second in the Atlantic Division but suffered a close loss to the Kings. Key players like Sam Reinhart and others continue to contribute offensively, yet the team remains focused on improving their overall performance.
"We've missed him. He's a big part of all pieces of our game, our penalty kill maybe more than anything." Head coach Paul Maurice on Ekblad's impact.
"He's a guy that plays a lot minutes, a lot of hard minutes. When he's in the lineup, it's definitely a reassuring feeling knowing he's back there." Forward Sam Bennett praises Ekblad.
"I really liked our second [period]. I thought we were better in the second and they were better in the third." Maurice reflects on the team's performance after the Kings loss.
Despite missing time with an upper-body injury, Ekblad still leads Florida's defensemen in both assists and points.
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