The Oilers could also be down a vital top-six ahead because the Stanley Cup Closing shifts to Florida. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can be a game-time choice for Monday’s Recreation 3 attributable to an undisclosed harm after lacking Sunday’s observe session, head coach Kris Knoblauch instructed reporters (together with Tony Brar of Oilers TV).
Nugent-Hopkins didn’t miss a shift in Recreation 2’s double-overtime loss and didn’t miss a recreation attributable to a non-illness-related harm all season lengthy. He’s routinely been beginning video games on the wing with Connor McDavid and Corey Perry, however he’s additionally alternated with Leon Draisaitl because the membership’s second-line middle.
When shifted to Draisaitl’s spot between Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen later in Recreation 2, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal relays that Kane was taking faceoffs as an alternative of Nugent-Hopkins, pointing to a speculative upper-body difficulty.
On the heels of an underwhelming common season, Nugent-Hopkins has turned up the warmth within the postseason. The 32-year-old is working at some extent per recreation with a 5-13–18 scoring line regardless of being held off the scoresheet in his final three appearances.
He was particularly dominant in Edmonton’s Western Convention Closing victory over the Stars, posting a 2-7–9 scoring line in Video games 1 via 4.
A possible Nugent-Hopkins absence with a 2-1 sequence lead on the road is exacerbated by the unavailability of common Connor McDavid/RNH linemate Zach Hyman, who sustained a critical wrist harm within the Dallas sequence and is completed for the 12 months. Whereas depth items like Kapanen and Perry have far exceeded expectations when elevated into top-six roles this postseason, there’s rightful concern about consuming too deep into their depth in a seven-game sequence in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Jeff Skinner, a wholesome scratch for all however two video games in these playoffs, took line rushes in Sunday’s observe in Nugent-Hopkins’ place alongside McDavid and Perry and can presumably enter the lineup if RNH can’t go.
In his first profession postseason motion, the veteran of practically 1,100 regular-season video games has a objective and an help over his pair of appearances.
