Corey Perry is the gift that keeps on giving. At 39 years of age, he’s not the scorer he once was. He’s not playing the minutes he used. Heck, Perry isn’t always a regular in the Edmonton Oilers lineup. That said, he’s a difference-maker, and his game on Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks proved why.
Perry is the kind of player you hate when he’s not on your team. When he’s on your roster, it quickly becomes evident that he’s an effective pest who is also a master of game management. When asked about how effective Perry was against the Canucks, Leon Draisaitl said of Perry’s in-game management, “He’s probably the best in the league at it. He knows when to do what at the right times.”
Specifically, Perry turned what was going to be a power play for the Canucks into an advantage for the Oilers. Technically, it was all evened up when Teddy Blueger started punching Perry and took a penalty for it, but the Oilers were the much better team, 5-v-5 and 4-v-4. To negate a power play was pure gamesmanship.
Perry certainly wasn’t afraid to fight, but there was no good reason to in that moment.
At the end of the second period, J.T. Miller and Perry stayed out on the ice to have some words. It’s not known what Perry said, but you can bet it likely had to do with the drama surrounding Miller and the Canucks. Is it a coincidence Miller looked disinterested at times during that game? Probably not.
Perry Went After Quinn Hughes
Two games after Connor McDavid was suspended for cross-checking Conor Garland, Perry also sent a message to the Canucks by going after their star players, specifically Quinn Hughes. Perry was vocal about how the NHL isn’t protecting its star players. To prove a point, he went after the Canucks’ best in a scrum.
It was a subtle thing, but it proves a point. Hughes was fine, but Perry’s actions got a ton of attention from Canucks’ fans who didn’t like his antics. One Twitter user wrote, “Corey Perry less than 2 days ago says the NHL needs to “protect their stars” and then goes and does this to Quinn Hughes. Surprised Quinn didn’t get up and crosscheck him in the face.”
Perry was the ultimate rat on Thursday night, and it had an impact on the game.
Perry Is Producing Too
Not to be overlooked are Perry’s numbers this season. In a limited role, he’s producing for the Oilers. He had eight goals and 16 points in 47 games. He averages 11:27 per night, and being effective and productive in limited ice time shows how he can impact the game without playing much of it.
