Nurse 'best D' on Oilers as NHL team extends winning ways

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse during NHL action on Nov. 30, 2024, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press)

Darnell Nurse has been a difference-maker for the Edmonton Oilers in their recent resurgence.

The reasons why were on display Tuesday night as the Oilers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in a tight 2-1 home-ice game: keeping the opposition scoring threats from getting good position and serving as a catalyst on offence.

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Nurse didn't register a point on Tuesday at Rogers Place, but he was key to both goals as the Oilers won to begin a string of games against fellow National Hockey League heavyweights.

Like his team, the 29-year-old defenceman had a slow start to the 2024-25 NHL season. The Oilers stuttered the first month to a .500 record, while Nurse was coming up to speed after missing most of training camp and not playing in any exhibition games to prepare for the regular-season grind.

"Lately" though, said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, Nurse "has been really solid."

"Something I saw a lot of (against Tampa) was on the line rush against, just being able to deny the blue lines," Knoblauch said after the game of Nurse. "We don't have to defend, (then) force them into dumping the puck in. He's really good at breaking the puck out. With his speed, he can retrieve a lot of pucks."

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont and Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse battle for the puck during NHL action on Dec. 10, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press) Teammate Leon Draisaitl, who scored Tuesday's game-winning goal after Nurse saucered him a breakaway pass, told media afterward the 10-year Oilers veteran has been "really, really, really good, like high-end."

"He's been amazing, maybe our best D (defenceman) for a while now," said Draisaitl, who leads the NHL in goal-scoring with 20. "He's such a horse, and you can't beat him off the rush. When he makes plays like that and settles the puck down and makes strong plays, it's fun to watch."

Nurse's renaissance of sorts – coming up to speed after the slow start and recovering from injuries he played with in the playoffs – coincides with the Oilers' winning ways of late. They're winners of six of their last seven games, the lone blemish a frameable 1-0 loss to the Pacific Division rival Vegas Golden Knights, who are slated to visit Edmonton on Saturday. The Oilers play in Minnesota against the NHL-leading Wild first, though, on Thursday.

Nurse returned to the Oilers' lineup at the start of this seven-game run. He missed a week of action after suffering a concussion courtesy a hit by Toronto Maple Leafs tough-guy Ryan Reaves.

When asked about his calm, business-like demeanour on the ice of late, Nurse said he's simply taking the ice to "see plays, make plays, have confidence in my ability to go out there and make it."

"I came into this year (and) wanted to have a high standard for myself, to come out and play well for the team each and every night," Nurse said after Tuesday's game. "It's been going well, but once you set the standard, you got to continue to build off it night after night."