Defenseman plays just 3 shifts over final 2 periods

© Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images

Darnell Nurse sustained an undisclosed injury in the Edmonton Oilers’ 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.

But Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said he doesn’t expect the 29-year-old defenseman to miss any time.

“He’s getting looked at right now,” Knoblauch said after the game. “He was on the bench. Yeah, I think he’ll be good to play, but he’s getting looked at, so I don’t have an update.”

Knoblauch did not have an update on Nurse’s status Tuesday.

“I have not spoken to our medical staff,” he said. “I’ll be seeing them in about 15 minutes, and I’ll get that report then.”

Nurse was hit in the corner by Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues at 8:16 of the first period and left several seconds later. He played four shifts in the first period, the final one lasting 13 seconds.

Nurse returned to the bench in the second period but only played three shifts over the final two periods.

Nurse has three assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Oilers. He entered Game 2 averaging 19:48 of ice time per game in the playoffs, third among Edmonton defensemen behind Evan Bouchard (24:42) and Mattias Ekholm (21:46).

The Oilers also lost forward Warren Foegele, who was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for his knee-on-knee hit on Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen at 9:21 of the first period.

“We missed Foegele with his speed, having four lines,” Knoblauch said. “The amount of penalties took away the flow of the game a little bit but I think we weren’t as efficient breaking the puck out as we were in the first game.”

The Panthers lead the best-of-7 series 2-0.