Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse first player to hit the ice for game one morning skate

If there were ever a sign that Darnell Nurse will be good to go ahead of game one of the playoffs, it’s the fact he was the first skater on the ice for the Oilers’ morning skate Monday.

Nurse was injured on April 22 in a game against the Colorado Avalanche and missed the Oilers’ final five games of the regular season.

On Monday, he smirked at reporters and said “we’ll see” when asked about his availability for game one.

The fact he’s out there and moving is a good sign to say the least.

What we still don’t know at the time of writing is a definitive answer on either Nurse’s status or the lines for game one tonight. But during the morning skate, the Oilers had a full fourth line skating, and a full fourth defensive pair, according to Bob Stauffer.

Kane-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Hyman-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Foegele-RNH-Ryan
Archibald-McLeod-Kassian
Brassard-Shore

Nurse-Ceci
Keith-Bouchard
Kulak-Barrie
Russell-Broberg

Smith
Koskinen

Not having Nurse in the lineup would be a huge blow to the team, but Brett Kulak has faired quite well sliding up alongside Cody Ceci in the four games Nurse has missed.