Nugent-Hopkins game-time decision for Oilers in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

SUNRISE, Fla. — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was on the ice for the morning skate but remains a game-time decision for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC).

The forward did not practice 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 took Nugent-Hopkins’ place at left wing on the Oilers’ top line 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 is also 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. “I haven’t talked to him, but it was nice to see him on the ice there this morning and we hope to have him in the lineup.”

The No. 1 pick by Edmonton at 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 is 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, so hopefully he’s just good to go and we’ll just move forward and if not, someone will be ready to step in.”

Skinner made his playoff debut in a 6-5 loss at the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the first round on April 21. It came in his 15th NHL season and 1,078 regular-season games. He had 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 72 games with Edmonton this season.

He signed a one-year contract with the Oilers on July 1, 2024, after having the last three seasons of an eight-year, $72 million contract ($9 million average annual value) bought out by the Buffalo Sabres.

Skinner has been a healthy scratch for 16 of Edmonton’s 18 playoff games.

“He’s been a true professional and when we’ve needed him, he’s been ready to play,” Knoblauch said. “He stepped in and played a really good game in Dallas and scored a goal in fact, and played well. He’s been prepared through it all.

“It can be a long time off between games, not playing, and he’s worked hard in all the skates, knowing there’s going to be injuries or there’s going to be a lineup change or something. He’s been prepared and if he’s playing tonight, I have confidence he’ll give us a good game.”

NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report