Kris Knoblauch gives worrying postgame update on Adam Henrique after Game 1
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Daniel Lucente
Apr 21, 2026 (9:34)
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Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Adam Henrique left Game 1 hurt, and Edmonton's playoff matchup plan suddenly got a lot thinner.
Edmonton still beat Anaheim 4-3 in Game 1 on April 20, but Henrique played only 2:56 before heading down the tunnel after a collision with Kasperi Kapanen.
Kris Knoblauch's postgame line told the story. He said the Oilers would learn more Tuesday and admitted Henrique would leave "a big hole," especially on special teams.
That is the real pressure point here. Henrique is not driving headlines, but he handles hard minutes, wins draws, and keeps Edmonton's structure clean when the game gets messy.
His regular season line was 3-12-15 in 65 games, but the bigger number is 54.0 percent in the faceoff circle. That kind of detail matters in one-goal playoff hockey.
"We will find out tomorrow how long he will be out.
It's gonna be a big hole. We'll miss (him). He's been so good on our special teams. Obviously, we're going to need other guys to step up if we are to lose him."
- Kris Knoblauch
It's gonna be a big hole. We'll miss (him). He's been so good on our special teams. Obviously, we're going to need other guys to step up if we are to lose him."
- Kris Knoblauch
Josh Samanski is the next man up, and that changes the bet Edmonton is making. They would be swapping a 16-year veteran for a 24-year-old undrafted forward with 2-2-4 in 24 NHL games.
Adam Henrique Puts Edmonton Oilers Depth Under Fire
The mood around this spot is easy to read, this is where fans start wondering whether Game 1's comeback covered up a real problem.
Samanski has size and some net-front touch, but Henrique's value lives on the penalty kill and in those low-event shifts that keep Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from taking every hard defensive faceoff.
That ripple effect is the story for Game 2. If Anaheim pushes more off the forecheck, Edmonton's third line and second PK unit are now under a brighter light than they were 24 hours ago.
The Oilers won Monday. Tuesday is about whether that win came with a lineup tax they cannot hide for long.
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