The Florida Panthers welcomed back their captain Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Aaron Ekblad for Game 3 of their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Barkov, who had been sidelined after a brutal hit from Tampa's Brandon Hagel, was cleared to play following a successful pregame warmup. Meanwhile, Ekblad returned from a significant 20-game suspension due to a performance-enhancing drug violation, eager to contribute as he had been pivotal for the team prior to his suspension.

Coach Paul Maurice indicated that while Barkov's playoff experience is invaluable, they would ease Ekblad back into play, focusing on 5-on-5 early on. Notably, Hagel was suspended for his hit on Barkov, which underlines the physical nature of the playoff series. As the Panthers aimed to maintain their 2-0 series lead, the return of key players may shift the momentum in their favor.