Kris Knoblauch knows that Darnell Nurse can be better.
Kris Knoblauch knows that Darnell Nurse can be better.
EDMONTON -- Last night was not the best of Darnell Nurse's tenure with the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite pulling off a desperation save of his own in the second period - he hasn't been great during this playoff run. Something needs to change with Nurse, but what more can be done?
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the answer? A lot, actually.
They have only tried one other variation of pairings these playoffs. Nurse has either played with Cody Ceci or Vincent Desharnais, that is it.
Nurse has the capability to be a difference maker every time he steps on the ice - the unfortunate thing for the Oilers is that the difference he has made has ended up in the back of their own net, rather than the opposition.
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At today's Kris Knoblauch scrum, he talked about what Nurse can improve on. He started with talking about Nurse's stats, " plus minus is obviously a very difficult stat to look at. Sometimes you are soaking up minuses when you had nothing to do with the play."
Knoblauch then goes on to address his play directly, "I think there's still more for him, I think he can play better. The way he checks and covers the ice - I don't know anyone in the NHL who is able to get around the ice as quick as he can and close plays off. He's so efficient at that...I think that's his strongest attribute."
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"For him to play well, that's something he has to be doing every shift. Darnell can play better."
This challenge by Knoblauch should be met with open arms by Nurse. Knoblauch clearly values his abilities as a player, and knows that he can play better.
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