The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for the next two games on Tuesday.

Ekblad laid a high hit on Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Monday. Ekblad’s forearm landed on Hagel’s face. Hagel was forced to leave the game, and Bolts coach Jon Cooper said Hagel won’t play in Game 5.

“Ekblad takes his right hand off of his stick, raises his elbow, pulls it back and uses the extended arm to deliver a blow that strikes Hagel in the head with force, causing an injury,” NHL player safety’s video explanation said.

“This is a direct blow to an opponent’s head with an extended elbow delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline,” the video said.

Cooper Frustrated After Hagel Injured In Game 4 'It’s Getting Tiresome Answering Questions About A Hit Every Single Game'Jon Cooper sounded frustrated. But he also sounded defeated.

Ekblad played his second game of the series on Tuesday after returning from a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Ekblad scored a crucial goal in the Panthers' dramatic Game 4 comeback. He and Seth Jones scored a goal each within 11 seconds to take a 3-2 over the Lightning late in the third period, eventually winning 4-2 and taking a 3-1 series lead.

The 29-year-old has a minus-three rating in his two appearances and averaged 21:16 of ice time.

There have been a handful of disciplinary actions from NHL player safety involving this series. Hagel was suspended for Game 3 after a heavy hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Florida D-man Niko Mikkola was also fined $5,000 for boarding Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4.

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