Oilers forced to adjust their lineup after losing veteran to injury in Game 1

The Oilers grabbed a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, but the bigger story coming out of the opener was the loss of one of their veteran forwards.

Henrique left early and did not return.

Knoblauch made it clear after the game that Edmonton still needed more information on the injury. What he already knows is this: losing Henrique creates a real hole in the lineup for Game 2.

That matters because Henrique isn't just another depth piece.

He gives Edmonton a steady fourth-line center, reliable faceoff work, and trusted minutes on special teams when the bench gets tight.

Knoblauch said Henrique has been “so good” on special teams, and that tells you where the pressure shifts next. Somebody else now has to absorb those touches right away.

Edmonton does have internal options, but neither comes with Henrique's comfort level in this spot. That's why the lineup change feels bigger than a simple one-for-one swap.

The two names in play are Josh Samanski and Curtis Lazar. Those are the obvious candidates if Henrique can't answer the bell in the second game of the series.

Samanski looks like the cleaner hockey fit based on how Edmonton has used him before. He has already spent time with Colton Dach and Trent Frederic, which gives Knoblauch a familiar combination to reach for.

He also has at least a little NHL runway this season, dressing for 3 games and posting 1 assist. That is not a massive sample, but it gives the staff something recent to work from.

Lazar brings more experience, but the bigger question is where Knoblauch wants his fourth line to lean. If Edmonton wants pace and a known fit, Samanski has a path back in.

This is where playoff depth gets tested. The Oilers can survive one injury, but only if the replacement handles the defensive details, keeps shifts clean, and doesn't force the top six to cover extra ground.

Game 1 gave Edmonton the lead in the series. Game 2 may show whether Henrique's injury is a brief scare or the first real lineup problem of this matchup.

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