The Oilers could also be down an important top-six ahead because the Stanley Cup Last shifts to Florida. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might be a game-time resolution for Monday’s Recreation 3 on account of an undisclosed damage after lacking Sunday’s apply session, head coach Kris Knoblauch informed 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 sport on account of a non-illness-related damage 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 a substitute 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 sport 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 Last 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 traditional Connor McDavid/RNH linemate Zach Hyman, who sustained a critical wrist damage within the Dallas sequence and is finished for the yr. 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 apply 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 purpose and an help over his pair of appearances.
