Ow.
Everybody that watched the Edmonton Oilers during the playoffs could tell defenseman Darnell Nurse was playing hurt.
He confirmed the rumors after Edmonton’s Game 4 loss against Colorado, saying he played the entire playoffs with a torn hip flexor suffered during the end of the regular season.
Nurse didn’t miss a game due to the injury, instead serving a one-game suspension for headbutting Los Angeles Kings forward Philip Danault in the first round. Nurse only played about 21 minutes a night while coach Jay Woodcroft worked to manage Nurse’s injury.
Nurse played 20:18 in Game 4, the most of any Oilers defenseman.
The Oilers were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 on Monday, with the Avs advancing to the Stanley Cup final.
