Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was knocked out of Saturday’s sport towards the Toronto Maple Leafs after taking a giant hit from Ryan Reaves early within the second interval.
After seeing teammate Nurse bloodied and dazed by successful that acquired Reaves ejected from Saturday’s sport, a number of members of the Oilers questioned why Reaves didn’t do extra to make sure the collision was delivered extra safely.
“I feel it’s a harmful play,” stated Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “He’s acquired to know that Nursey doesn’t see him coming and select the appropriate path there, and he doesn’t. It’s robust to see one among your teammates on the ice like that.”
“It was to the top,” added Adam Henrique. “Only a unhealthy play.”
Ryan Reaves receives a 5-minute match penalty for this hit on Darnell Nurse. pic.twitter.com/hVZN9FJpRY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 17, 2024
Reaves was assessed a match penalty for an unlawful verify to the top at 2:41 of the second interval and was ejected from the sport. The Leafs ahead took 5 or 6 strides earlier than leveling Nurse as he skated round his personal internet with the puck.
Whereas Nurse stayed down within the nook for an prolonged time getting tended to by a coach — he sustained a giant reduce on his brow — Oilers captain Connor McDavid emotionally pleaded with the referees as they deliberated the decision close to the penalty bins.
It was a jarring scene.
Play needed to be halted halfway via Edmonton’s ensuing five-minute energy play in order that blood might be scraped from the ice within the nook the place Nurse was hit.
“The sport is quick, however (you’ve acquired to keep away from) the hit,” stated Henrique. “We’re skilled athletes and we’re capable of make these selections fast, I feel, in our head. You realize when a man’s susceptible or in a foul spot. So only one you don’t need to see.”
Inside minutes, the Oilers introduced that Nurse wouldn’t return to the sport due to an upper-body damage. No additional replace was offered on his situation following a 4-3 time beyond regulation loss to the Leafs.
Darnell Nurse (higher physique) won’t return for the #Oilers tonight.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 17, 2024
Reaves might be dealing with supplemental self-discipline from the NHL’s Division of Participant Security. He’s been suspended thrice beforehand throughout his 893-game NHL profession – two of which had been the results of unlawful hits.
“I feel the decision on the ice, that was the appropriate name, clearly,” stated Nugent-Hopkins. “They need to take a great arduous look (at supplemental self-discipline) for positive.”
Added Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch: “I’m fearful about our participant. Clearly, contact to the top and we don’t need to do this, however I received’t get into the small print of how extreme it was and all that.”
There have been no less than some encouraging indicators because the Oilers packed up their gear and left Scotiabank Area. Nurse was seen strolling out of the visiting dressing room below his personal energy and stopped to signal some autographs earlier than leaving the constructing.
“I feel all of us checked in on him,” stated Nugent-Hopkins. “Clearly, he’s a troublesome buyer. I feel he in all probability performs it off somewhat greater than he’s feeling, however already you might sort of inform his eye was swollen up somewhat bit. He appeared all proper. Typically the adrenaline takes somewhat bit to subside.
“Clearly, we’re hoping for the most effective.”
How Nurse’s damage impacts the Oilers
Given the best way Nurse seemed as he left the ice, it’s arduous to check a situation the place he performs on the remainder of the highway journey — which concludes in Montreal on Monday and in Ottawa on Tuesday. The Oilers host Minnesota and the New York Rangers subsequent Thursday and Saturday, respectively, earlier than having nearly every week off till they journey to Salt Lake Metropolis for a Nov. 29 contest towards Utah.
No matter how lengthy Nurse is sidelined, his absence will likely be sizeable for the Oilers.
Nurse had been enjoying a few of his finest hockey of the season of late and was coming off a 3-point effort towards the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Included in that output had been two targets and the sport winner in time beyond regulation.
Nurse is far maligned in Edmonton, a byproduct of his $9.25 million cap hit. However there’s been a noticeable uptick in his efficiency since beginning to get semi-regular shifts with Brett Kulak on Oct. 27. Per Pure Stat Trick, Nurse has 51.2 Corsi for and 53.1 anticipated targets percentages at five-on-five in these 9 video games earlier than Saturday. The Oilers have additionally outscored opponents 6-4 in 174 minutes in that state of affairs over that span.
The Oilers severely lack depth on the blue line with out Nurse, who entered Saturday’s sport third in common ice time on the workforce at 21:36. They entered the season with a significant query mark at second-pair proper protection subsequent to Nurse, which emerged as an issue early on earlier than Kulak helped patch the outlet on his weak facet.
The Oilers may not have the manpower now to maintain their elite high pair of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard collectively full time. That already grew to become a actuality after Nurse’s departure on Saturday, although the Oilers dressed 11 forwards and 7 defencemen due to an damage to winger Viktor Arvidsson.
Depth defenceman Travis Dermott seldom performed towards the Maple Leafs, leaving Bouchard to get some motion on the left facet subsequent to Troy Stecher and Ekholm to get time with Ty Emberson. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Oilers beat author
(Picture: Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press through AP)
