Injury forces Panthers to take desperate measures and Ekblad is all the focus now

Feb 27, 2026 (9:15 PM)

Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Aaron Ekblad jumped onto Florida Panthers PP1 mid-game, and the Uvis Balinskis absence felt like a warning.

It happened fast, right after Balinskis left the game and Florida had to reshuffle on the fly.

Armando Velez noted Ekblad took Balinskis' spot on the first power-play unit once the defenseman was out.

That matters because Balinskis has been living on PP1 lately, not just filling time.

Daily lineup trackers have shown Balinskis as the usual point man on the top unit, with Ekblad running the second group.

So when Ekblad climbs to PP1 midstream, it is not «normal rotation,» it is an emergency adjustment.

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Florida's power play is built on quick touches and clean entries, and the QB role changes the feel immediately.

Ekblad plays a heavier, more direct game at the top, and that can simplify the reads for the flank shooters.

He's sitting at 3-18-21 in 55 games this season, so the offense is still there even if the highlights come in waves.

Balinskis has chipped in too at 5-9-14, and the bigger point is that Florida trusted him with premium man advantage minutes.

Panthers fans hate these in-game dominoes, because one guy leaving can turn a comfortable night into survival hockey.

If Balinskis is fine, this is just a quick swap that tells you Florida still trusts Ekblad to steer the ship.

If Balinskis misses time, it becomes a real blue line stress test, especially with the schedule tightening.

Florida is sitting at 30-25-3, so they do not have many «easy points» left to waste.

That's why the PP1 tweak feels bigger than it should, because special teams can steal you a game when five-on-five gets messy.

Ekblad on PP1 also hints at urgency, like the staff wants their most experienced trigger at the top when the game swings.

It's not just about bombs from the point, it's about retrievals, puck security, and keeping the man advantage from stalling out at the blue line.

The next update on Balinskis is the real story, because the Panthers can survive a night of shuffling, but they cannot live in it.

Previously on Sunrise Hockey Insider

POLL
FEVRIER 27\|38 ANSWERS Injury forces Panthers to take desperate measures and Ekblad is all the focus now Should Aaron Ekblad stay on Florida Panthers PP1 even after Uvis Balinskis returns?
Yes
No