Darnell Nurse leads revamped Blue Line as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins faces injury uncertainty for game 3
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With the Stanley Cup Final tied up 1-1, the Edmonton Oilers are all set to confront a crucial Game 3, considering both a possible strategic change and injury concerns. The signs of defense reorganization were evident from their latest practice, indicating a wholly new setup to quell Floridian offensive pressure.
However, some uncertainty remains: there was concern when the veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was absent from practice. Now, as the series flips over to Florida, the Oilers face more crucial decisions both on and off the ice.
Being a strategic revamp: Nurse leads the top defensive pair with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' absence looming large
The Oilers made some drastic changes to their defensive arrangement in preparation for Game 3 during the Sunday practice session. Darnell Nurse, with his physical edge and durability, was seen skating with Evan Bouchard on the top defensive pairing.
This change comes after Edmonton's 5-4 double overtime loss in Game 2, where one could argue defensive lapses prevailed against Nurse, who had logged nearly 28 minutes of ice time.
Matthias Ekholm, formerly alongside Nurse on the second line, has now been moved to skate with Klingberg. For much of the postseason, John has been something of a third-pairing defenseman. Now, with this move, he steps into a bigger role. At the same time, the third pair is completed by Walman and Kulak.
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Kulak, meanwhile, has moved from the second pairing, down one slot, likely in an effort to spread some of that invading presence together with Nurse in Tri-city and transitions.
The Oilers' adjustments appear to be in response to concerns about their defensive reliability, especially as the Panthers scored better in total chances than the Oilers, 76-61. So, whether the changes are an attempt to correct the imbalance or not, head coach Kris Knoblauch is now preparing his teams to face Florida's up-tempo style of play.
Adding to the on-ice drama is the uncertainty of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The 32-year-old forward, who has been one of the offensive threats this postseason with 18 points, did not practice Sunday. His status for Game 3 was called a "game-time decision" by the coach. Jeff Skinner stepped in for Nugent-Hopkins on the top line with Connor McDavid and Corey Perry, but, for now, it seems just a precaution.
Also Read:
Darnell Nurse controversy sparks accusations of NHL bias by Dallas Stars
With the Stanley Cup Final set to shift to Florida for Game 3, the Edmonton Oilers will be relying on Darnell Nurse to stabilize the back end while anxiously awaiting the status of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. With the series hanging in the fine balance, every lineup decision could fully shift momentum.
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