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.
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 …