Absence of injured Adam Henrique leaves void in Ducks’ lineup

WASHINGTON — At immoderate point, looking backmost astatine 2020-21, Adam Henrique came to symbolize each that was going haywire for the Ducks during the pandemic-altered, 56-game season. He was struggling to score, was scratched from the lineup, was placed connected waivers and was unclaimed by immoderate different team.

In time, aft a standout show for Canada astatine the World Championships, Henrique regained his assurance and his game, and the Ducks person benefited from his improved play to commencement 2021-22. So, his lack from their lineup Monday due to the fact that of a lower-body wounded was glaring.

Henrique had six goals and 10 assists successful 23 games earlier helium was forced from the Ducks’ crippled Friday against the Calgary Flames, aft a pugnacious but ineligible cheque on the boards from erstwhile teammate Erik Gudbranson. Henrique did not articulation the Ducks for the commencement of their five-game trip.

Coach Dallas Eakins shifted Vinni Lettieri into Henrique’s spot connected near helping connected the Ducks’ apical enactment for Monday’s crippled against the Washington Capitals. The Ducks besides were without halfway Ryan Getzlaf due to the fact that of a lower-body injury. Sam Steel filled Getzlaf’s spot for the 3rd crippled successful a row.

“Right present we’ve got to spell with what we’ve got,” said Eakins, who did not regularisation retired the accidental that either Henrique oregon Getzlaf could articulation the squad astatine immoderate constituent connected its five-game travel to play the Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.

Henrique’s turnaround has coincided with the Ducks’ turnaround this season, filling a cardinal relation connected their apical line. Eakins shifted Henrique to near helping from halfway successful bid to marque mode for rookie Trevor Zegras to presume the halfway spot connected the 2nd line. Henrique didn’t complain.

“It was the astir elemental speech ever,” Eakins said. “I went to him and said, ‘We whitethorn determination you to the wing. It’ll either beryllium with ‘Z’ oregon ‘Getzy.’’’ He conscionable looked astatine maine and said, ‘You play maine wherever you want.’ That was virtually the conversation. There was nary of this, ‘Well, I’m a centerman. I request this. I request this.’ It was, ‘Whatever is champion for the team. Put maine there.’ But that’s who helium is.”

Eakins besides praised Henrique for maintaining a affirmative cognition past play and for arriving astatine grooming campy successful September acceptable to enactment 2020-21 down him. It couldn’t person been easy, fixed each that happened, particularly the awkwardness of returning to the squad aft helium had been waived.

“I deliberation we each conscionable got caught connected a snowball going the incorrect mode past twelvemonth and couldn’t get disconnected of it,” Eakins said. “I deliberation his attitude, and his affirmative vibes and character, close from erstwhile helium showed up successful the summertime done grooming campy has been a large portion of what’s been going connected here. We’ve got a fig of guys who are truly cardinal successful injecting that benignant of mindset that we’re riding disconnected close now.

“He’s been 1 of them. And present not having him present is … (putting) greater work present (on the different lines) connected some sides of the puck.”

LINEUP SHUFFLE

Eakins inserted Buddy Robinson into the lineup Monday against the Capitals aft helium was scratched for Friday’s crippled pursuing his callback from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Eakins could person shifted Bo Groulx onto the 4th line, aft his callback Sunday from San Diego.

“(But) helium had a hellhole of a time of travel,” Eakins said of Groulx’s day-long travel from Stockton, wherever the Gulls had played Saturday, to Washington. “Stockton to Sacramento to determination other and past to here. I saw him this greeting and helium looked similar a dog’s breakfast.”