Ryan Nugent-Hopkins suits up for Oilers in Game 3 of Stanley Cup final
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SUNRISE – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins suited up for the Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final on Monday.
The versatile forward missed Sunday’s practice with an undisclosed injury and then came on late for the team’s optional morning skate some 24 hours later at Amerant Bank Arena.
Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch said Nugent-Hopkins would take warm-ups and be a game-time decision with the title series rematch against the Florida Panthers tied 1-1.
The 32-year-old participated in line rushes in his regular spot ahead of puck drop on the Oilers’ top line alongside Connor McDavid and Corey Perry before being confirmed in the lineup.
Florida winger A.J. Greer, meanwhile, returned from injury in place of Jesper Boqvist after missing the first two games of the final.
The longest-serving player on Edmonton’s roster, Nugent-Hopkins had 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points across 78 games in 2024-25.
The Burnaby, B.C., product selected No. 1 overall at the 2011 NHL draft has 748 points (271 goals, 477 assists) in 959 regular-season games in his career. He’s added 79 points (22 goals, 57 assists) in 92 playoff contests.
“He’s been a top player for us for a long time,” Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak said before Monday’s contest. “He’s been amazing through our whole playoff run.”
A member of both the top power-play and penalty-killing units, Nugent-Hopkins offers the Oilers flexibility in being able to move from wing to centre when the club chooses to load up one line with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Knoblauch acknowledged that would be more of a challenge if Nugent-Hopkins was unavailable.
“We don’t have a lot of centres on our roster,” said the coach. “It does change what we can do.”
Veteran winger Jeff Skinner was preparing to play if Nugent-Hopkins, who had five goals and 13 assists in 18 games in these playoffs entering Monday, was unable to suit up.
The 33-year-old Skinner scored the first post-season goal of his career in Game 5 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars as part of Edmonton’s series-clinching 6-3 victory. Skinner had 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 72 regular-season games with the Oilers in 2024-25.
Green returned to Florida’s effective fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich. The 28-year-old from Joliette, Que., has two goals and an assist in 12 playoff games this spring.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
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