Darnell Nurse News
Nurse was on the receiving end of an illegal check to the head by Toronto's Ryan Reaves on Saturday. Reaves was given a five-minute major penalty and has been suspended for five games. The 29-year-old Nurse, who has nine points (2G / 7A) in 18 games this season, could return to the lineup on Saturday against the New York Rangers.
Nurse was on the receiving end of an illegal check to the head by Toronto's Ryan Reaves on Saturday. Reaves was given a five-minute major penalty and has been suspended for five games.
Nurse and Cody Ceci will have the night off for the Oilers on Wednesday, being replaced by Troy Stecher and Philip Broberg. Nurse has had a down year offensively, scoring only 32 points (10G / 22A) in 80 games, his lowest output in six seasons.
Nurse was charged with an instigating penalty for a fight against Vegas' Nicolas Hague in the final minute of Game 4 which will lead to an automatic 1 game suspension. The 28-year-old has four assists, 20 SOG, 21 PIMs and is a +1 plus/minus through 10 playoff games thus far.
With the Oilers facing elimination, they will be without their best defenseman in Game 6. Nurse missed the final four games of the regular season with an injury and the Oilers went 3-1-0 without him.
Nurse missed the final four games of the regular season with a lower-body injury but will be a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. the Kings.
Nurse missed Wednesday's game in St. Louis while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to be back in the lineup in New Jersey. The Oilers are also expected to get Jesse Puljujarvi and William Lagesson back.
The Oilers have already been shut down through the Christmas break, so we'll see when they resume play next week. Nurse will likely be out until at least next Thursday.
Nurse will be out until at least early November with a broken finger, which means that Philip Broberg should get an extended look with the Oilers. Evan Bouchard should take on more power-play usage as well.
As previously reported, Nurse is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury. Nurse and Slater Koekkoek are going on IR together, opening up roster spots for Philip Broberg and William Lagessson to be called up from the AHL.
Nurse was hurt in Thursday's win over the Jets and is expected to miss at least the Oilers last four games of November. Philip Broberg will be promoted from the AHL to help replace him.
The new deal will keep Nurse in Edmonton through the 2022 season. Nurse has scored four goals with 20 assists (24 points) in 55 games this season.