The Oilers are still breathing, and if there’s anyone who wants this final to go on a little longer, it’s probably Corey Perry.
The 39-year-old striker is no stranger to the big stage. He won a Stanley Cup there in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks, but since then, his appearances in the final have all ended the same way: on the losing side.
He tasted the bitter nectar of defeat with the Dallas Stars in 2020, with the Canadian the following spring, and then finally with the Tampa Lightning in 2022. With a 1-3 deficit for the Oilers against the Panthers of Florida right now, Perry is once again faced with a similar conclusion.
But he has often said that he prefers to see the glass half full.
“I find it very special to have been able to take part in so many finals,” he explained in Florida as he began this final. It shows that I played with several different teams, also that I was lucky enough to be able to participate in several matches during the playoffs. I wouldn’t want to change places with anyone, that’s what we all want: to have the chance to find ourselves in such situations.
All players dream of that at the end of the season: playing until June, and trying to get their hands on the Stanley Cup. I’ve had these opportunities in recent seasons, and that’s why we play matches, that’s what we dream of when we’re younger. Now here I am, in the final.
Corey Perry
So far, this spring hasn’t been so easy for the Ontario forward. During the Oilers’ victory on Saturday night, by a score of 8-1 in game four of this final, Perry obtained an assist, only his second assist and also his second point since the start of the current series.
This harvest perhaps illustrates a 2023-24 season which was difficult, starting with a hasty departure from Chicago (“it’s in the past, we’re looking forward and I’m very happy to be here”, is he happy to say on this subject at the start of the final), and then with a rather modest end to the season with the Oilers, where he collected 13 points in 38 games.
Which brings him back to the present and to this cup which undoubtedly escapes him too often. On this subject, he has not forgotten the spring of 2021 in the Canadian jersey.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Carey Price and Corey Perry in 2021
“It’s my fifth final at the moment, and I think it’s something that’s still quite special,” he will also say before the start of the current series. When I think back to 2021, I tell myself that it was quite crazy, that it was a bit of chaos; we spent the season playing in front of no one, and then, in the playoffs, there were a few more people, and against Vegas, we had to play in a full arena there, also against Tampa in the final.
It was crazy but I wouldn’t change any of it. Montreal was incredible for me, it was a great experience. The Canadian was my favorite club when I was young, so it was special to be part of this adventure, to be part of this team.
Corey Perry
The next match of the final, the fifth, will be presented Tuesday evening at Sunrise. This time, Corey Perry would like to be on the right side.
“This team has gone through so many challenges during the season,” he said when playing the first match of the series. This team had to learn to win in the face of adversity, and during the playoffs, we learned something new at the end of each round… I hope that can be useful to us. »
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