Even allowing for the Edmonton Oilers just being too inconsistent in general this season, they have still endured a ridiculous amount of injuries throughout the 2024-25 campaign which would have broken a lesser team. At one time or another the casualty list has included the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane and Stuart Skinner.
However, with the exception of Kane, all the aforementioned players will be ready to go come the beginning of the playoffs in Los Angeles versus the Kings. It's a different story altogether though, when it comes to the Oilers' blue line.
Oilers' walking wounded on the blue line
Mattias Ekholm is the biggest absence, with him definitely missing the first round of the playoffs and potentially seeing his season finished altogether. In addition, John Klingberg, Troy Stecher and Trent Frederic are all expected to miss at least the first game of the Oilers' first round matchup with their divisional rivals.
As such, the last thing the Oilers need is to be without yet another one of their defencemen, but this was exactly the scenario facing the team with Darnell Nurse. Following his absolutely unnecessary crosscheck on Monday night to the back of the head of Kings' forward Quinton Byfield, there was every chance he would be suspended for at least one playoff game.
Darnell Nurse won't miss the start of the playoffs
In the end however, both Nurse and the Oilers caught a massive break and avoided a potential disaster. As per NHL.com, the 30-year-old has only been suspended for one game, without pay, by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
In other words, the only game Nurse will miss is the Oilers' regular season finale on Wednesday night in San Jose against the Sharks. There had been a genuine concern in Edmonton that the 2013 seventh overall draft pick could have received a harsher punishment of two or even three games overall.
NHL show lenience with Nurse and the Oilers
Ultimately, what saved Nurse was that he did not deliver his cheap shot more aggressively to Byfield. As per Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Journal, the NHL said: "While we agree with the assertion that this crosscheck is not delivered with exceptional force, it is only because of that fact that this incident is not met with much more hard discipline."
Despite the lack of force behind the crosscheck, it is interesting that the Hamilton, Ontario native wasn't punished more severely just based on his past digressions. He has twice previously been suspended for one playoff game, due to a headbutt and instigating a fight respectively.
In any event, the Oilers are just thankful they won't lose Nurse for the beginning of the playoffs, with him playing well this season after struggling mightily last season, particularly in the playoffs. He leads the team in blocks, is second in hits and tied-fourth with a + 11 rating, all while averaging the second-most minutes among all skaters.
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