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The Day After 76.0: Henrique’s slump-busting goal, great goaltending put Oilers in position to win Pacific
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
By Zach Laing
Apr 3, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 3, 2026, 17:50 EDT
The last time Adam Henrique scored a goal, people were getting their Halloween decorations set up, costumes laid out, and candy purchased.
All the way back on Oct. 23, 2025, Henrique scored the second goal of the game — and his second of the season — in the Edmonton Oilers’ eighth game of the season. They went on to beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 that night, and there was a tinge of optimism that Henrique could continue to provide some offence from a depth role.
That hasn’t been the case, as heading into Thursday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Henrique had just 10 assists in 50 games. It all changed when he got a partial breakaway five minutes into the second period, thwarted on his first chance, only to bang a rebound past Arvid Soderblom.
His goal was one of three the Oilers would score en route to their 3-1 victory over the Hawks, putting the team in a spot many thought was impossible just two weeks ago: one where they could win their division for the first time since 1986-87.
The Oilers have rattled off five-straight wins to put themselves in such a spot, clicking at the right time while doing it without superstar Leon Draisaitl, and with an inept power play that looks none-the-same without the Deutchland Dangler in his office. But the team has prevailed, in large part due to their goaltending.
Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry have combined for a .935 save percentage (SV%) over this five-game winning streak, providing the Oilers with the second-best mark in the league over any team’s previous five games. Jarry, who backstopped Edmonton to wins over Utah and Chicago, has allowed three goals against on 33 shots, for a .917 Sv%. Ingram, who had wins against Vegas, Anaheim and Seattle, has allowed five goals on 98 shots for a .944 Sv%, including a shutout.
The crease has seemingly stabilized for the Oilers at the right time and now, with six games to go, the team can control their fate.
What they said…
Adam Henrique on scoring…
“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.”
Matt Savoie on Edmonton’s winning streak…
“Our group’s just been really attentive these past few weeks. I think we’re really buying in. 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.”
Kris Knoblauch on the Oilers penalty kill…
“It’s looking very good. Having two really good penalty killers in Dickinson and Murphy, they’ve been a really big part of that, and then just everybody blocking shots. Your most important penalty killer is your goaltender, and you saw the Grade-A chance that we gave up at the end of the first period. He came up with a huge one there.”
Up next…
The Oilers host the Golden Knights Saturday night (8 p.m. MT), before embarking on a three-game road trip next week. They’ll visit the Mammoth Tuesday, the Sharks Wednesday and cap it off with a matinee game Saturday against the Kings.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
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