Forward did not practice on Sunday because of undisclosed injury
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SUNRISE, Fla. — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was in the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.
The forward was a game-time decision after he did not practice on Sunday because of an undisclosed injury. He played 25:45 in Game 2 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Friday, a 5-4 loss in double overtime that evened the best-of-7 series.
“He’ll take warmup and we’ll decide from there,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday.
Jeff Skinner had taken Nugent-Hopkins’ place at left wing on the Oilers’ top line on Sunday with center Connor McDavid and right wing Corey Perry. Skinner has one goal and one assist in two playoff games.
“If I’m not in, there’s nothing to worry about, so just prepare like I’m in,” Skinner said after the morning skate. “Hopefully, (Nugent-Hopkins) is good to go.”
Nugent-Hopkins has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) and is plus-6 in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He had 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 78 regular-season games.
The 32-year-old also plays on Edmonton’s top power-play unit and kills penalties.
“He’s a been a top player for us for a long time and he’s been amazing throughout the whole playoff run,” Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak said. “… It was nice to see him on the ice there this morning.”
The No. 1 pick by Edmonton in the 2011 NHL Draft, Nugent-Hopkins has 748 points (271 goals, 477 assists) in 959 regular-season games and 79 points (22 goals, 57 assists) in 92 playoff games, all with the Oilers.
Edmonton was already missing forward Zach Hyman, who won’t return this postseason after he had surgery on his right wrist. Hyman sustained the injury when he collided with Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment in the first period of a 4-1 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on May 27.
Connor Brown returned for the start of the Cup Final after the forward missed the final two games against Dallas with an undisclosed injury.
“We have a lot of guys who can step in and play and are ready to go and have done that throughout the playoffs if guys are in and out,” Oilers forward Adam Henrique said. “You just wait and see. Obviously, [Nugent-Hopkins] is a huge part of this team and has been his entire career. He means a lot to our group in there.”
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
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