Connor Brown Returns for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final
Connor Brown, a forward for the Edmonton Oilers, is set to return to action for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers this Wednesday after recovering from an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old player participated in practice on Sunday, marking his first skate since missing the last two matches of the Oilers’ recent Western Conference Finals series against the Dallas Stars.
Recent Performance and Injury Update
Brown had to leave Game 3 prematurely following a heavy collision with Stars defenseman Alexander Petrovic on May 25, which resulted in his absence for the final games of that series, which wrapped up last Thursday.
In 14 playoff appearances, Brown has registered a total of eight points, comprising five goals and three assists. During the regular season, he played all 82 games and achieved an impressive 30 points with 13 goals and 17 assists, alongside a plus-9 rating.
Team Adjustments
With Brown sidelined, Viktor Arvidsson took over his role on the third line, joining center Adam Henrique and left winger Evander Kane. The Oilers are also missing forward Zach Hyman, who is recovering from surgery after suffering an upper-body injury in the fourth game against the Stars.
Browns’s Thoughts on His Return
“I feel good,” Brown stated following his practice session. “It was great to finally get out there again with the team since I hadn’t been able to practice much. I’m really looking forward to getting back into the game.”
Despite some uncertainty regarding the line configuration, Brown noted,
“I’m just focused on being ready for the game. I’m not trying to interfere with the coaching decisions.”
Coaches’ Assessment
Edmonton’s head coach, Kris Knoblauch, expressed optimism about Brown’s condition, saying,
“He was on the ice and even double shifting during practice, so I’m confident he’ll be ready for Game 1.”