Despite missing a portion of Game 2, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch is not concerned about the availability or effectiveness of captain Connor McDavid going forward in their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.
The news was not as positive on forward Adam Henrique, who Knoblauch said will not travel with the team to Anaheim. Fellow forward Jason Dickinson might be available for Game 3 after missing Wednesday’s game.
Knoblauch says he’s not concerned about McDavids availability or effectiveness moving forward based on the time he missed in game 2. Says Henrique is not going on the trip but Dickinson may be available for game three. Said Dickinson was 50-50 in the morning for game 2.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) April 23, 2026
McDavid was forced to the locker room early in the second period of Wednesday’s Game 2 home loss after his lower right leg appeared to buckle during a collision with teammate Mattias Ekholm.
The 29-year-old centre returned to the ice later in the period.
“I just rolled up on it a little bit. It’s fine,” McDavid said after the game.
McDavid committed a poor turnover in his own zone late in the second, leading to shorthanded goal by Ducks forward Ryan Poehling, giving Anaheim a two-goal advantage.
The three-time Hart Trophy winner has not recorded a point over two games against the Ducks and was a minus-2 in Edmonton’s Game 2 loss.
Knoblauch says it’s only a matter of time before McDavid finds his game again.
“He’s putting a lot of pressure on himself,” said Knoblauch.
“He wants the team to do well. He’s a leader and usually when we have success, he’s a big part of that. There’ve been stretches during the season that he hasn’t been the best player, nights where he hasn’t been outstanding.
“That doesn’t happen very often and I’m certain that he’s going to find his game.”
The Richmond Hill, Ont., native netted 48 goals and 90 assists for a league-best 138 points over 82 games in 2025-26, his 11th season in the NHL with the Oilers.
With the best-of-seven series tied at a game apiece, Game 3 goes Friday night in Anaheim.
Henrique staying in Edmonton
The 36-year-old Henrique is considered day-to-day after missing Game 2 with a lower-body injury. Henrique played just 2:56 in Game 1.
Henrique scored three goals and 12 assists over 65 games with the Oilers this season.
On a positive note, Dickinson, who scored twice in Edmonton’s Game 1 victory, has a chance to play in Game 3.
The 30-year-old missed Game 2 with an undisclosed injury. He had a 50 per cent chance of playing on Wednesday morning, according to the coach.
Dickinson netted one goal and three assists over 17 regular season games with the Oilers after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in early March.
