EDMONTON — Adam Henrique will return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup against the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, MAX ).
The forward has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury suffered during the series-clinching victory in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
Henrique did not play against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of the second round before playing 11:38 in Game 2. He missed the last five games of that series, won by Edmonton in seven games, and the first two games against the Stars.
The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1.
“I’m certainly looking forward to getting back into the lineup and I just want to be able to try to make a difference for the team,” Henrique said. “I think in those first few turns you just want to get back into the rhythm, the flow of the game. Go out, play a simple, difficult game and jump right in.
“And then from there, I think you just adapt, you know? It’s like riding a bike, you just get back on and go. I’ve been waiting to get back into the lineup for a while.”
Henrique scored 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 82 regular season games, including nine points (six goals, three assists) in 22 games after the Oilers acquired him in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on March 6. He averaged 55 seconds of ice time per game and won 55.2 percent of his faceoffs (95 of 172) during the regular season after the trade.
“He touches a lot of aspects of the game,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said of Henrique. “Penalties, even strength and confrontations help us a lot. He is definitely someone we have missed.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch echoed McDavid’s comments about Henrique and mentioned he was close to returning early in the series.
“I’d say it was close, maybe not 100 percent, but I’m sure if it had been Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, we would have had it sooner,” Knoblauch said. “But I think with his experience, his intelligence, he will help us tonight.
“When Adam was available and felt like he was 100 percent, then we want him in the lineup. He’s a very important player for us, he can kill penalties, he can be on the power play and he’s a very good 5-on-1. 5 players.”
Henrique will replace forward Ryan McLeod, who has no points in 14 Stanley Cup playoff games as he centers the third line. McLeod has a total of 15 shots on goal and averages 13:47 of ice time per game. He has played on penalties, hasn’t given up a power-play goal in his last six games and has blown 21 consecutive opportunities.
“I think this time of year everyone looks at the big picture and I think everyone understands that,” Henrique said. “Everyone goes through ups and downs, and I think you have to have that big-picture mentality. Everyone is going to be called on at some point or another, and everyone is waiting for each other to step up and whoever is there.” In or out of the lineup, I think we have every confidence in each of the players here.”
Edmonton went 4-3 in seven games without Henrique in the lineup.
“I guess mentally it was also a day-to-day thing,” Henrique said. “I think mentally it’s probably harder than physically with certain things and just not being able to be there to help. It’s more stressful watching than playing and I certainly learned a lot about that. But watching the guys, watching everyone come together, moving forward and fighting , it was certainly great to watch and see the team continue to improve.
“And you’re looking forward to being a part of it, so it’s good to be back.”
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