Panthers' Ekblad helped off ice after suffering apparent leg injury

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad needed help leaving the ice after an awkward collision Friday against the Anaheim Ducks.

He was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the contest with what the Panthers labelled a lower-body injury.

Interim head coach Andrew Brunette offered an encouraging postgame update.

"We're very hopeful," he said, according to WPLG's David Dwork. "It's way better than we thought it would be."

He added: "Nothing structural. I'll know more (Saturday). It'll be a clearer picture (then of) exactly what it is. But yeah, it was positive news (Friday night), and we'll go from there."

Ekblad went to hit Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, but teammate Aleksander Barkov accidentally took out his legs. He couldn't put any weight on his right side as he crawled toward the bench before the training staff helped him off the ice.

Ekblad broke his left leg last March and missed the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign as a result.

The 26-year-old is enjoying a career year that's put him into the Norris Trophy conversation. He entered Friday with 57 points in 60 games - fifth among NHL defensemen - while averaging a team-high 25:19 per contest.

The Panthers traded for Ben Chiarot on Wednesday to bolster their defense corps, but they may have to add another blue-liner if Ekblad has to miss time.