The Edmonton Oilers aren’t concerned about the availability of Darnell Nurse heading into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Though Nurse did not participate at all in practice at Rogers Place on Wednesday, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters that the defenceman will be good to go on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
“We haven’t considered not having him for next game,” the bench boss said. “He’ll be ready to play.”
Nurse appeared to suffer an injury in Game 2 after taking a hit from Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues. He was on and off the bench for the remainder of the game but was limited in the shifts he took, finishing with just 4:20 TOI.
Though Nurse is likely to go on Thursday evening, there is less clarity on the status of Evander Kane. The forward took to the ice on Wednesday ahead of practice, but left shortly thereafter following a conversation with the coach.
When asked if Kane would be available to play Game 3, Knoblauch said, “We haven’t decided yet.”
The 32-year-old suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final but hasn’t been held out of the lineup thus far. He played just over 10 minutes in the 4-1 Game 2 loss.
Knoblauch did say that forward Corey Perry would likely slot back into into the lineup after being scratched, indicating the possibility that Kane will not be available.
The Stanley Cup Final shifts to Edmonton as the Oilers look to pocket their first win of the series on Thursday. Catch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT.
Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft provided updates on the injuries to defenseman Darnell Nurse and forward Evander Kane during a recent press conference.
Nurse, who has been a key player on the Oilers’ blue line, suffered a lower-body injury in a game against the Calgary Flames. Woodcroft stated that Nurse is currently day-to-day and is undergoing further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. The team is hopeful that Nurse will be able to return to the lineup soon, but they are taking a cautious approach to ensure he fully recovers before returning to game action.
As for Kane, the veteran forward sustained an upper-body injury in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. Woodcroft revealed that Kane is also day-to-day and is being monitored closely by the team’s medical staff. The Oilers are optimistic that Kane will be back on the ice in the near future, but they are being careful not to rush his recovery process.
In the meantime, Woodcroft emphasized the importance of depth within the team and highlighted the contributions of other players who have stepped up in the absence of Nurse and Kane. He praised the resilience and determination of the team as they continue to push forward despite facing adversity with key players sidelined due to injuries.
Overall, the Oilers are focused on maintaining their competitive edge and staying in the playoff race as they navigate through these injury challenges. Woodcroft expressed confidence in the team’s ability to overcome obstacles and continue to perform at a high level as they strive for success in the remainder of the season.