Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a game-time decision for Game 3

Not the news Edmonton Oilers fans wanted to hear during their Sunday.

When speaking to the media, head coach Kris Knoblauch stated that forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is going to be a game-time decision for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.

The question of the veteran’s health arose after Nugent-Hopkins was noticeably absent from Oilers practice on Sunday.

Knoblauch didn’t specify what could be ailing Nugent-Hopkins. There seemed to be no sign of anything hurting the 32-year-old in the second game of the series on Friday night, as Nugent-Hopkins registered 25:45 of ice time during Edmonton’s 5-4 double overtime loss, thanks to a game-winning goal from Brad Marchand.

It has been a pretty physical series, with the teams combining for 201 hits in the opening two games in Edmonton last week. Also, at this point of the season, no one is 100 percent. However, the potential absence of Nugent-Hopkins in a crucial Game 3 as the series shifts to Sunrise for the first time could be detrimental for the Oilers. The former first-overall pick has spent most of the postseason playing on a line with captain Connor McDavid and either Zach Hyman or Corey Perry.

Nugent-Hopkins has also been one of the team’s top producers in these playoffs. In 18 games, he has notched five goals and 13 assists for 18 points, sitting fourth on the Oilers in scoring. He was key to Edmonton’s series win over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final, scoring two goals and seven assists for nine points in the five-game set.

The first two games of the final have been exhilarating. The Oilers rallied back from 3-1 down to beat the Panthers in overtime in Game 1, only to have another comeback fall short in the second game.

Game 3 from Amerant Bank Arena is set for Monday night. Puck drop is scheduled for a little after 8 p.m. ET.