Darnell Nurse is the first skater on the ice for today’s morning skate…
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Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse first player to hit the ice for game one morning skate

Photo credit: © James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
May 2, 2022, 12:48 EDTUpdated: May 2, 2022, 14:08 EDT
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.
Darnell Nurse taking reps with Cody Ceci as the Oilers take part in their final skate before Game 1.
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
Hyman-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Foegele-RNH-Ryan
Archibald-McLeod-Kassian
Brassard-Shore
Nurse-Ceci
Keith-Bouchard
Kulak-Barrie
Russell-Broberg
Keith-Bouchard
Kulak-Barrie
Russell-Broberg
Smith
Koskinen
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.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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