Golden Knights, Oilers get defensemen Pietrangelo, Nurse back for Game 6

EDMONTON -- Alex Pietrangelo and Darnell Nurse each had a bit more jump than usual Sunday morning, an extra jolt of energy to be back on the ice with their teammates after the defensemen missed Game 5 of the Western Conference Second Round serving one-game suspensions.

Pietrangelo, the Vegas Golden Knights top defenseman, and Nurse, who has the same role with the Edmonton Oilers, will return for Game 6 at Rogers Place on Sunday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Vegas leads the best-of-7 series 3-2.

"It was nerve wracking watching the game," Pietrangelo said of being a spectator Friday. "Hopefully I don't have to do that ever again. It's good to be back with the guys. The energy in here is always good. You realize how much you miss it when you're not out there."

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Oilers series coverage]

Pietrangelo was suspended one game for slashing Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl at 18:33 of the third period in Game 4. Ben Hutton played in his place Friday, skating 12:24 and getting some time on the second power-play unit.

Nurse was suspended one game for instigating a fight with Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague at 19:10 of the third period in Game 4. Rule 46.21 stipulates that any player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game receives an automatic one-game suspension.

Philip Broberg replaced Nurse in Edmonton's lineup. He had two penalties and played 6:01.

Vegas won 4-3 at T-Mobile Arena.

"I mean, it [stinks] to watch," Nurse said. "It was tough."

Now that he's back, Nurse's emotions have obviously changed.

"I'm excited," he said. "I think our team is excited. You're going through the playoffs, through the course of a season, there's different challenges and different adversity that you have to face. I think over 82 games we faced a lot of adversity and we were able to withstand it and push forward. It's a test for us to do it in the playoffs. I love the group in here that we have."

Nurse was with the Oilers in Las Vegas for Game 5 and he said he watched it with some members of the training staff.

"Oh yeah, the poor trainers," he said. "I was just walking and pacing back and forth. I didn't throw anything, but it's tough."

Pietrangelo watched the game in the arena with some of the other Golden Knights players who were not playing.

"I was a little more nervous than some guys," he said. "You kind of become a fan, right. You try to watch the game and look for things that maybe you can help out with, but the game is so fast that it's hard sometimes watching on TV so you kind of just become a sports fan. That was probably the most fun I've had watching a game."

They'll both be back in familiar spots for Game 6; Pietrangelo skating on the Golden Knights' top defense pair with Alec Martinez, and Nurse on the Oilers' top pair with Cody Ceci. Both will be back playing on the power play and penalty kill too.

"It's huge," Martinez said of Pietrangelo's return. "He's our No. 1 D-man for a reason. He's a horse out there. He's played a lot of big minutes for us all year. He's committed at both ends of the rink. That guy does everything well. Guys did a good job of stepping up last game in his absence but suspensions, things like that, that's how the game goes, especially in the playoffs. You've got to be able to have guys that can step in there and I'm really proud of those guys, but it's good to have him back."

Said Connor McDavid of Nurse's return, "It's big. Obviously, he plays big minutes. He's an important player for us. He plays in all situations. He's a big piece here."

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy noted two positives that came from Pietrangelo missing Game 5 that the Golden Knights can take into Game 6.

Most important, of course, is that they won without him to take a lead in the series. But also notable is their third pair of Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud played some important minutes against Edmonton's top six forwards without giving up a goal.

"We gave them the challenge of one of those top two lines and I think they did really well," Cassidy said. "You want them to have that same mentality no matter who they're playing against but they know that if something happens tonight they can handle that challenge."

Cassidy said he doesn't think John Stevens, Vegas' assistant in charge of the defensemen during games, will have a problem putting Hague and Whitecloud on the ice in any 5-on-5 situation Sunday.

"We're going back to our pairs the way they were," Cassidy said, "and I don't think Johnny will be chasing matchups with our 'D' pairs now."