With a game 1 overtime win against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has barely had a chance to breathe. He's going to have to think fast, though as he has a tough decision to make before game 2 Saturday Night.
Veteran Adam Henrique has not played since game 3 of the Oilers second round series against the Vancouver Canucks. The injury is a high ankle sprain suffered in the first round against the LA Kings, meaning he played on it for a couple of games. Knoblauch told reporters today that he wants Henrique in the lineup for game 2 against Dallas, but it may mean that he's not 100 percent.
Henrique has played in six games so far in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, and was consistently playing around 17 minutes per game until his last two in the Oilers lineup when he was obviously dealing with the sprain.
Henrique's presence would surely be appreciated by his teammates, but putting him out before he's completely healed adds risk of a reinjury. It's a tough decision to make, but Knoblauch does seem insistent on Henrique suiting up for game 2.
