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Pre-Scout: Oilers hope to lead Golden Knights on Easter goose-egg hunt
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Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Apr 4, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 4, 2026, 13:11 EDT
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Adam Henrique had skated far enough to reach Mannville, Alberta since his last goal. 
That’s if you combine all the kilometres Henrique skated in his Edmonton Oilers appearances since October 23 on his 50-game goalless drought, roughly 172 clicks, and if he elected to travel due east on Highway 16. 
Henrique has more games played than Mannville has residents. Nevertheless, his goal came at an important time. The Oilers were controlling the game against Chicago, but weren’t being rewarded. 
“It’s not something that I’ve been putting extra pressure on myself to do, but it’s certainly nice to go and get one and finally get back on the board,” said Henrique after a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday night.  
The Blackhawks asked Tristan Jarry questions, creating their offence off the rush. He was tested with much better looks than the Utah Mammoth provided nine days before. Jarry made the saves he needed to make on a total of ten high danger chances for (HDCF). The Oilers hope it continues to grow his confidence.
Collectively, they have a five-game winning streak, something that seemed like a far-off dream this time two weeks ago. 
“Our group’s just been really attentive these past few weeks. I think we’re really buying in,” said Matt Savoie.  
“Obviously, we know how important this time of year is and the push we have to make the playoffs and give ourselves a really good spot in the standings. So guys know how big a time of year it is, and guys are digging in.”
With Anaheim’s loss to St. Louis on Friday night, the Oilers and Ducks each have six games remaining and are tied with 87 points.

Torts retorts

John Tortorella doesn’t look like the type of man who’d lead a group of 20 men on an Easter egg hunt. However, in two showings against the slowest rabbits in the pasture in Vancouver and Calgary, it’s two wins for Torts and the team.
The shock and awe hiring of the “old wise man,” dubbed by Sportsnet upon his first game behind the Vegas Golden Knights bench, Tortorella is supposed to provide a redemptive end to their season. 
One thing’s for sure, he’s never afraid to crack a few eggs to make an omelette. 
Would Vegas have won those games with Bruce Cassidy? Probably. This game will be their test in showing a little life, especially with the chance of a rematch in two weeks time with bigger chocolate bunnies on the line.   
“I have a few points of emphasis that we’ll go over as a team, just about mindset and odds and ends,” he said at his introduction on Monday. “I just want to come in and keep my head down and try to help the best way I can, to try to find a way to get in, and see where we go from there.” 
Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin all talked about spirit, emotion, and gusto as far as what the team lacked down the stretch. 
The team was an all-time shooting percentage plus save percentage (PDO) downslope. They were creating scoring chances, but couldn’t bury. They were getting behind early in games, digging holes that only occasionally they could dig out of. 
But it’s also true, they lacked….something. 
Even with the coaching change, Vegas has allowed the first goal in its last two games. On Thursday against the Flames, Mitch Marner played his best game in the golden threads, scoring a hat-trick and chiming in with two assists. 
Their third period, easily their best of the three this season, came through to break a deadlock and win 6-3. 
“We just stuck with our game plan of trying to play quick, play up the ice, play in their face,” Marner said. “I thought we did a better job throughout the game of covering for one another when we were doing that. Obviously, some great plays from some guys to find me, and just kind of make plays.”

Make the final

Today, will be legendary commentator Vic Rauter’s last curling broadcast as Canada looks to win the Worlds Championships. Meanwhile, the Oilers will look to “count ’em up…1…2…3…4” and sweep the season-series against the Golden Knights, and win their sixth straight against their Pacific foe.
Every Oiler has talked about the need to step up in Leon Draisaitl’s absence. But they’re backing up their words.
For example, the Oilers’ fourth line has been involved in the game’s first goal three straight times. That makes Henrique’s offensive contribution all the more important if he wants to remain in the lineup. With Colton Dach’s return from injury expected shortly, just Trent Frederic and Curtis Lazar in the preceding games, coach Kris Knoblauch has options like he’s rarely had all season.
Plus, once the fourth line has helped established the lead, the Oilers haven’t relinquished it. In the Oilers’ 17 home games in 2026 before Saturday, Edmonton had won and never trailed in the game twice. They’ve surpassed that mark in a week alone.
Matt Savoie could’ve made had a multi-goal game, but the rules of offside took back the marker away on Thursday. However, the results post-Olympics continue to impress. Savoie has six goals and 14 points in 17 games since the break.
He’s leaped to tenth in rookie scoring this season.

Notes: 

  • Kasperi Kapanen on Friday after an optional skate, talking about the start of the season to now: “We were just underperforming. We have an extremely talented, extremely good, and I’d say, complete hockey team. We weren’t playing to the best of our ability. And, as of late, we’ve kind of found it.” 
  • On Thursday, Carter Hart played his first game since January 8. He made 19 saves on 22 shots against. One would expect Adin Hill to get the nod in this game, though. Hill has allowed seven goals in two starts against the Oilers this season.
  • Connor Ingram made all 27 saves for his second shutout of the season against the Kraken. That was his ninth career shutout.
  • He’s started all three games vs Vegas, with a 3-0 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.67 goals against average.
  • Vegas’ offence might be turning around. Starting against the Oilers on March 26, they’ve scored 17 goals in their last four games.
  • This begins a four-game road trip for the Golden Knights that will take them through the Pacific Division, but wrap up next Saturday in Colorado.
  • Anaheim hosts Calgary tonight after a poor showing at home against the Blues. It’s one thing to play free with no expectations. It’s another to be expected to win games. The ol’ scavenger hunter vs hunted.
  •  The Oilers are 9-0-2 at home against divisional foes this season.
  • Vegas is 2-6 on the road since the Olympic break.
  • Edmonton broke a streak of 15 consecutive unsuccessful powerplays with Savoie’s ricochet goal vs the Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the penalty kill has denied 11 straight opportunities for the enemy.
  • Pavel Dorofeyev rifled home his 35th of the season vs the Flames on the powerplay. That ties his total from last year.
  • Trent Frederic played 13:36 of ice-time with two shots on goal in his return to the lineup. That was his highest ice-time since February 26.
  • Vegas has one of the strongest man advantages of the league, but remarkably, Jack Eichel hasn’t scored a powerplay goal. He has the most goals in the NHL without a powerplay goal.
  • There’s another forward potentially in the mix of the Oilers lineup. New forward Owen Michaels out of Western Michigan got a one-year entry-level contract that begins now. The circumstances of the contract didn’t allow for a longer entry-level contract, as he’ll turn 24 next month. He can’t be sent to Bakersfield, either. No member of Oilers management has commented on what the plan is for Michaels.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4. 

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