Panthers captain Barkov good to go for Game 3 against Lightning; Ekblad returns from suspension

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers had two of their best players available for Game 3 of their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Captain Aleksander Barkov was set to play after being knocked out of Game 2 by Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad returned from a 20-game suspension.

Coach Paul Maurice said Saturday morning Barkov was feeling good, but the team wanted to see how the star center felt after pregame warmups two days after taking a hard hit from Hagel late in Florida's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday that gave the Panthers a 2-0 series lead.

Hagel received a one-game suspension and did not suit up for his team's pivotal Game 3.

Barkov remained down on one knee briefly after the hit before skating off to the Panthers' dressing room. He missed the final 10:09 of the game. Hagel drew a five-minute major for interference on the play and had a call Friday afternoon with the NHL’s department of player safety, which decided on the one-game suspension.

Ekblad's return came after he was suspended 20 games without pay in March for violating the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

He said in a statement through the NHLPA at the time that news he had failed a random drug test shocked him, and he apologized for the error.

Before the suspension, Ekblad had 33 points while averaging a team-high 23:31 of ice time over 56 games. He was also a key special teams player for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Maurice said he likely wouldn't put Ekblad back on the power play immediately, instead easing him back into 5-on-5 action. Nate Schmidt and Seth Jones would continue leading those units.

For Barkov, his impressive playoff streak continued. He has played in all 73 of Florida’s playoff games since he joined the club. He is Florida’s all-time leader in playoff appearances, assists (43), points (62) and is tied for third in goals (19).

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) takes down Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov tries to get up after getting knocked down by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles police have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner is long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work includes some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in the 1970s TV classic “All in the Family” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker catapulted him to fame.

Reiner turned 78 in March.

Messages to his representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner has been married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

FILE - Rob Reiner arrives at the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network's Respect Awards, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)