Edmonton forward Connor Brown, who has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury, practiced on Sunday and will be available when the Oilers play the visiting Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.
Brown, 31, missed the final two games of the Oilers’ five-game series against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals, which concluded last Thursday. He exited Game 3 in the second period on May 25 after a thunderous hit from Stars defenseman Alex Petrovic that sent him to the ice.
I feel good,” Brown said after Sunday’s session. “Nice to get a practice in with the team. Obviously, I haven’t been practicing much. It’s nice to get it going. I’m excited.”
Brown has eight points (five goals, three assists) in 14 playoff games. He totaled 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) and a plus-9 rating while playing in all 82 games during the regular season.
His spot on the third line has been filled by Viktor Arvidsson at right wing with center Adam Henrique and left wing Evander Kane. The Oilers are without forward Zach Hyman, who had surgery after sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 4 against the Stars.
“I’ve got no idea what the line combinations are,” said Brown, who skated with the fifth line on Sunday. “Obviously, I’m not trying to put my coaching hat on or anything like that. It’s just my job to be ready to go.”
“I think he will be fine,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “Obviously, you saw him on the ice and double shifting, and I’m pretty sure and confident that he will be fine for Game 1.”
–Field Level Media
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