Edmonton Oilers Adam Henrique Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Oilers’ Adam Henrique sets NHL record for longest streak between playoffs goals

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Zach Laing | Last updated 4/23/24

Do you remember that scene from the movie Titanic where an elderly Rose says the line, “It’s been 84 years?”

Now take that, apply it to Adam Henrique, and change 84 years to 4,333 days. That’s how long it had been since he scored his last playoff goal before he tickled twine Monday night against the L.A. Kings in the Oilers’ 7-4 win.

His goal was a big one for the Oilers, coming at the 9:05 mark of the first period. Connor McDavid carried the puck into the offensive zone, firing a shot that rung around the boards to Evan Bouchard. He played the puck to Zach Hyman, who skated to the blueline drawing in the eyes of four pinching Kings.

Still, Hyman remained calm with the puck, finding a seam through the bodies where he was able to thread a pass to Henrique with acres of open ice. He skated down to the faceoff circle, wiring a shot home past a helpless Cam Talbot.

“It’s been a while, but it’s certainly nice to be back in the playoffs,” said Henrique, adding his goal “felt good.”

“Again, just trying to attack. I don’t know how the play really evolved and kept it at the blue line and was able to find some ice downhill and just be a confident shooter, really. It’s as simple as that.”

EDM LAK G1. April 22, 2024. Adam Henrique goal. 2-0. : Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/Dr8peljm9G

— Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) April 23, 2024

The goal snapped a playoff-scoring drought that spanned 4,333 days, going back all the way to June 11th, 2012. Ironically enough, that goal also came against the L.A. Kings, being the New Jersey Devils’ lone goal in game six of the Stanley Cup Finals. For Henrique, the streak was thanks to the fact that he didn’t play much in the playoffs, getting just four post-season games, all of which came in the 2018 playoffs when he was with the Anaheim Ducks.

The prior streak was held by Craig Ludwig, who spanned 4,079 days between his own playoff goals. The goal that started the streak came on April 9th, 1988, with the Montreal Canadiens scoring in the second period of a game against the Hartford Whalers, before he snapped it on June 10th, 1999 playing for the Dallas Stars, scoring against the Buffalo Sabres.

While Henrique’s streak only lasted a few games, Ludwig’s lasted a staggering 102 games. A big, left-shot defenceman, scoring goals was never a strength of his game. During that span, Ludwig played in 806 regular season games, scoring just 16 goals and 117 points.

Nonetheless, Henrique has been a great addition since joining the Oilers at the trade deadline. He’s slowly worked his way up the lineup to now play alongside McDavid and Hyman.

This article first appeared on Oilersnation and was syndicated with permission.

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