Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (hip) is expected to be in the lineup when the 2024 Stanley Cup Final continues on Thursday. The 29-year-old was limited in Monday's Game 2 against Florida due to a hip injury, logging only seven shifts and 4:20 of ice time. Nurse wasn't able to practice on Wednesday either. However, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expects to have him available on Thursday night. Nurse has had a frustrating postseason, contributing only three assists in 20 games on the offensive end. He is also carrying a team-worst minus-15 rating.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse ended a five-game point drought with three assists in Sunday's 8-2 triumph over the Ducks. Two of his helpers came in the first period when Edmonton battled back from a deficit twice and managed to win the frame 4-2. Nurse completed his hat trick of assists with a power-play helper as Mattias Ekholm finished the scoring late in the third. The 2023-24 campaign hasn't gone well offensively for Nurse, as this was his first multi-point outing, and he was sitting on only five points for the year before Sunday's matchup. However, he's still been impactful, with 45 hits and 45 blocks in 20 games, and Nurse's offensive numbers should improve with better performances from the team.
Darnell Nurse Suspended One Game For Instigating Fight
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has received a one-game suspension for initiating a fight in the final five minutes of Game 4. During the last minute of the game, Nurse engaged in a fight with Vegas' Nicolas Hague, resulting in an instigating penalty and an automatic one-game suspension. So far in the playoffs, the 28-year-old has recorded four assists, taken 20 shots on goal, accumulated 21 penalty minutes, and maintains a plus-1 rating through 10 games.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse will miss Thursday's Game 6 against Los Angeles due to a suspension. He was handed a one-game suspension for head-butting Kings center Phillip Danault in Game 5. This is Nurse's second career suspension and his first since a three-game punishment in 2016. His absence will obviously be a major blow for the Oilers, who find themselves trailing 3-2 in the series after being 2-1 up. Nurse averages the most minutes per game for the team and has tallied two points in the series with 13 blocks and 10 hits.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (lower body) practiced with the team on Sunday and could be available for Game 1 against the Kings on Monday. He missed the final four games of the regular season after hurting his right leg against Colorado on Apr. 22. Nurse finished the regular season with 35 points, 196 hits and 132 blocks in 71 games, while also leading all Oilers defensemen with a plus-18 rating. Nurse will skate with Cody Ceci on the first defensive pairing if he returns on Monday, which looks very likely.
Edmonton Oilers right wing Jesse Puljujarvi and defenseman Darnell Nurse will be back in action on Friday against New Jersey. The two were cleared from COVID-19 protocols on Thursday, along with depth defenseman William Lagesson. Puljujarvi, who boasts 23 points in 28 games this season, will return to the top line, joining Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid. Nurse will skate with Evan Bouchard on the first defensive pairing, looking to add to 13 points, 85 hits and 32 blocks he's racked up in 23 outings this season.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse scored his team's lone goal against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night. Nurse had played so well before his injury but had no goals to show for it. He misses a little over two weeks, come back, and promptly scored midway through regulation. Nurse, off a nice transition, was able to get the puck past Jonathan Quick for a short-handed tally. The defenseman had five shots, four hits, and two blocked shots as well in 26:35 of ice time. Nurse is fine and will continue his top-pairing deployments in all phases.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse returned to the lineup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings. He missed a little over two weeks due to injury. When he was activated off the injured reserve Sunday afternoon, things accelerated in short order. Edmonton did not miss a beat without him in the lineup. He takes his normal shifts on the top pair with Evan Bouchard. Power-play time will probably be almost the same as well. Overall, it is a big boost for Nurse and fantasy owners alike to cap off most fantasy weeks.
Darnell Nurse Signs Eight Year Extension with Edmonton Oilers
Darnell Nurse is now under contract for the next nine seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton defenseman inked an eight-year extension on Friday worth $9.25 million AAV over eight seasons. Nurse enjoyed an excellent season where he racked up 16 goals and 36 points in just 56 games. He shot a career-high 10.4% and played almost 26 minutes a night. The blueliner was one of the best point producers at even-strength from the defensive position last year with 29 even-strength points (15 of them goals). While that goal production rate may not be sustainable, playing with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and others will not hurt Nurse too much fantasy-wise in 2021-22.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse recorded his 13th goal of the season in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal, striking on a power play in the dying seconds of the second period. Devin Shore also scored for the Oilers, who blew a two-goal lead. Nurse has been a big force all over the ice this season, leading all blueliners in goal-scoring and recording 28 points in 39 games with 102 shots, 85 hits and 68 blocks. He's also among the league leaders with a plus-18 rating. Nurse will look for more success next in a couple of games against the Senators and their league-worst defense.
