Panthers' Ekblad out with neck injury

With their slim playoff hopes fading by the day, the Florida Panthers will once again be without Aaron Ekblad.

The top-pair defenseman will not play in Thursday's game against Arizona due to a sore neck. The injury is supposedly unrelated to the concussion that kept him out of the lineup for four games earlier in March, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.

No timetable has been set for Ekblad, who played just one game - Tuesday's loss to Carolina - following his return from the concussion.

Ekblad has recorded 10 goals and 11 assists in 68 games while averaging 21:27 a night, ranking second on the team in both points and average ice time for a defenseman behind Keith Yandle.