The Oilers could also be down a vital top-six ahead because the Stanley Cup Remaining shifts to Florida. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might be a game-time choice for Monday’s Sport 3 on account of an undisclosed harm after lacking Sunday’s observe session, head coach Kris Knoblauch informed reporters (together with Tony Brar of Oilers TV).
Nugent-Hopkins didn’t miss a shift in Sport 2’s double-overtime loss and didn’t miss a recreation on account of 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 heart. When shifted to Draisaitl’s spot between Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen later in Sport 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 concern.
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 a degree 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 Remaining victory over the Stars, posting a 2-7–9 scoring line in Video games 1 by way of 4.
A possible Nugent-Hopkins absence with a 2-1 sequence lead on the road is exacerbated by the unavailability of regular Connor McDavid/RNH linemate Zach Hyman, who sustained a critical wrist harm within the Dallas sequence and is completed 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 towards the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Jeff Skinner, a wholesome scratch for all however two video games in these playoffs, took line rushes in in the present day’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.
