Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse revealed he played through a torn hip flexor during his club's Western Conference Final run, according to The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman.
The injury occurred in the final week of the regular season. The 27-year-old played in 15 of the Oilers' 16 playoff games - he missed one due to a suspension - before they were swept by the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
Nurse managed two goals and three assists during the postseason while averaging over 21 minutes per contest - nearly four full minutes less than what he logged in the regular season.
He wasn't the Oilers' only impact player fighting through injury, though. Superstar Leon Draisaitl was visibly laboring throughout Game 4 on Monday but wouldn't divulge specifics.
"There are lots of guys who play through things," Draisaitl said, per TSN's Jason Gregor. "I won’t make this about me."
However, Draisaitl's mystery ailment didn't slow his production. The German playmaker put up 32 points in 16 playoff games, including four in Monday's loss.
Draisaitl became the second player in NHL history, along with Wayne Gretzky, to have seven three-point efforts in a single postseason, according to Sportsnet Stats.