Oilers Game Tonight sees Adam Henrique back in the lineup after a brief absence as the club manages multiple injury evaluations ahead of the road game at American Airlines Center.
Oilers Game Tonight: Projected lineup, injuries and goaltending update
Adam Henrique will return from injury to replace Colton Dach, jumping into the fourth line after missing the previous two games. Henrique said, “Good to go, ” and described the situation as a “bit of a scare” that worked out better than first feared. Henrique missed time after leaving a prior game following a blocked shot to the knee and was unavailable for a subsequent matchup, remaining day-to-day before this re-addition.
Two other roster moves accompany Henrique’s return. Colton Dach and Ty Emberson did not see action after the first period of a recent 4-3 win and were sent back to Edmonton for further evaluation. Spencer Stastney will fill Emberson’s spot on the third defensive pairing alongside Jake Walman. Head coach Kris Knoblauch provided a positive update on goalie Connor Ingram, noting he is fine to occupy the backup role behind Tristan Jarry after a collision and an early exit in the earlier game. Zach Hyman will play in his 700th NHL game tonight.
Projected lineup for the road game at American Airlines Center:
- Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Hyman
- Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Roslovic
- Savoie – Dickinson – Kapanen
- Henrique – Samanski – Frederic
- Ekholm – Bouchard
- Nurse – Murphy
- Walman – Stastney
- Tristan Jarry (starter), Connor Ingram (backup)
Roster implications and what to watch
Henrique’s return restores a veteran presence to the fourth line after he left a prior game following a blocked shot and later missed at least one subsequent contest while being listed day-to-day. In that earlier game he logged 7: 09 of ice time, won two faceoffs and took two shots on goal before exiting; his season totals include two goals, 10 points, 68 shots on net and 60 blocked shots across 48 appearances.
Expect continuity in the top-nine as presented in the projected lineup, with Stastney stepping into Emberson’s defensive role and Walman remaining on that pairing. The pair of players sent for evaluation will be the immediate items to monitor after they did not return following the first period of the recent 4-3 win. Goaltending depth has been confirmed for the night, with Ingram available as the backup.
The organization will watch Henrique’s effectiveness in jumpstarting the fourth line off the bench, the status updates on Dach and Emberson following their returns to Edmonton for evaluation, and whether the defensive pairing adjustments hold through the game. For tonight’s match in Dallas, the starting lineup and these injury developments are the decisive factors shaping deployment and minutes, and that is the state to follow for the Oilers Game Tonight
