SUNRISE, Fla. -- Aaron Ekblad will be out at least two weeks for the Florida Panthers because of a lower-body injury.
The defenseman collided with new teammate Vladimir Tarasenko at center ice late in the first period of the Panthers’ 5-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Saturday and did not return.
“[We’ll use] two weeks as a starting point, and then we’ll go day to day after that,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “It is nothing that you think will linger beyond a normal window, but the qualifier we are putting on it is we’re not bringing him back early. And that’s why this may take a little longer.
“… We’re going to wait until he is 100 percent. I expect him back at the end of March, early April.”
Ekblad has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 47 games this season while averaging 21:08 of ice time.
Florida (44-17-4), which leads the NHL with 92 points, is playing at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Defenseman Josh Mahura replaced Ekblad in the lineup, playing alongside Dmitry Kulikov.
Forward Evan Rodrigues also left the game Saturday after blocking a shot in the second period. He did not practice Monday and is not playing Tuesday.
Kyle Okposo, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, skated in Rodrigues’ place at practice and made his Panthers debut. He was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
