UNDATED (AP) — The Florida Panthers’ shot at a division title has taken a major hit.
Aaron Ekblad was taken off on a stretcher after suffering a serious leg injury midway through the second period of the Panthers’ 4-1 win over the Stars. Ekblad got tangled up in the corner with Stars defenseman Esa Lindell following a hit from Lindell. An air cast was placed on his left leg.
Ekblad’s 11 goals this season are tied for the most among NHL defensemen.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice in the first period for the Panthers, who are two points behind the Central Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning and one in back of Carolina.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
— Make it 10 wins in 11 games for the Capitals following a 5-4 win over the Rangers. Tom Wilson scored twice and Alex Ovechkin notched the 724th of his career. Ovechkin has 11 goals in his last 11 games, leaving him seven shy of tying Marcel Dionne for fifth on the all-time list.
— The Devils are 4-0-1 against the Bruins this season after Kyle Palmieri’s first-period goal was just enough in a 1-0 win by New Jersey. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 40 shots and was helped out when a late Bruins goal was waved off by video review because of goaltender interference.
— The Predators picked up their fifth win in a row as Roman Josi scored with about 6 1/2 minutes remaining in a 3-2 decision over the Blackhawks. Viktor Arvidsson and Calle Jarnkrok scored first-period goals for Nashville, which moved into a tie with Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division.
— The Ducks erased a 2-0 deficit and beat the Blues, 3-2 on Josh Manson’s overtime goal. Adam Henrique and Can Fowler also scored and Anthony Stolarz made 37 saves in his first start of the season.
— Michael Rasmussen supplied the tiebreaking goal early in the third period before Filip Hronek and Vladislav Namestnikov added empty-netters as the Red Wings beat the Blue Jackets for the second straight day, 4-1. Evgeny Svechnikov also scored and Calvin Pickard faced just 17 shots for Detroit.
