TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards
DETROIT -- Although he's never played a game at Joe Louis Arena before Tuesday night, Aaron Ekblad knows the building quite well.
Growing up across the river in Windsor, Ontario, Ekblad was raised on Red Wings hockey and will have plenty of friends and family in the building for Florida's game there Tuesday night.
How many will be there to see Ekblad's debut at the Joe? He's lost count.
"I have quite a few people I've already given tickets to and a lot of people who are buying them on their own,'' Ekblad said.
"There are like 10 families coming to the game to support me. I've never been able to play at the Joe, but I've been there as a fan about 100 times. It's exciting. It's going to be a ton of fun. I grew up with that team.''
Ekblad, the top pick of the 2014 draft, is having a terrific rookie season with the Panthers.
On Monday, he scored the lone goal in Florida's 2-1 loss at Columbus giving him three goals and pulled him into a tie with Jussi Jokinen and Nick Bjugstad for the team lead with 12 points.
Ekblad is tied for fourth in the league among rookie scorers and is third in ice time.
And why did Ekblad chose the No. 5? Nicklas Lidstrom, of course.
Posted with Blogsy
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