Corey Perry makes history as the Edmonton Oilers win the Western Conference Finals and will face the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup
The Edmonton Oilers made NHL history last night by recording the fewest shots on goal in a series-clinching game. Dallas’ goaltender Jake Oettinger only faced 10 shots, but that was enough as the Oilers defeated the Stars 2-1 and booked their trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
With their win, a former superstar for the London Knights made NHL history too. Corey Perry is the first player to play in the Stanley Cup Final with five different teams, although his track record in the finals is not very glamorous.
Perry was drafted fifth overall in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by London. He went on to play four seasons with the Knights and became their franchise leader in points with 380 in 253 games.
The 2004-05 season was one to remember for the Peterborough, Ontario native, winning the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup with London. The Knights had a record-setting season that year, going 59-7-2 in the regular season. The 2004-05 London Knights were voted the CHL Team of the Century.
Perry scored 175 points in major junior hockey that season and received the OHL regular season, playoff, and Memorial Cup MVP awards.
The London Knights retired Corey Perry’s No. 94 in 2011. He is one of nine players to have his jersey raised to the rafters by the organization.
His first visit to the Stanley Cup Final came in 2007 as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. As a 21-year-old who turned 22 during the playoffs, averaging 16 minutes a night, Perry was a catalyst for his team finishing second in scoring with 15 points in 21 games. His 14 points at even strength led Anaheim.
The Ducks beat the Ottawa Senators in five games and became the first team from California to win the Stanley Cup.
Perry’s next three trips to the finals came in a three-year span not too long ago. He was a member of the Dallas Stars in 2020 when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Then in 2021, he lost again to Tampa Bay as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He thought if you can’t beat them then join them and signed with the Lightning for the 2021-22 season. Unfortunately, it was another loss for Perry as the Colorado Avalanche took down Tampa Bay in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals.
That begs to ask the question, is Corey Perry bad luck? Although he seems to always be a member of a team that makes a run in the playoffs, it’s like he’s the kiss of death for teams that reach the finals.
If you are a fan in Edmonton or Canada hoping for an end to Canada's Stanley Cup drought this year, you are probably not hoping for this particular trend to continue. Maybe Perry not having a huge impact on his team will help him end this streak of his.
After playing in the Oilers’ first 10 playoff games, he was scratched for Game 6 in their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks. He made his reappearance in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals where he set up Edmonton’s first goal of the game creating a rebound from his shot off the rush, which started the comeback for them.
Perry has played the last three games for the Oilers and has reinstated his value in their lineup. Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has shown to not be shy and use his forward depth during these Stanley Cup Playoffs. The former OHL great will have to continue to play at his best if he wants to stay in the lineup during Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
Will Corey Perry win his second Stanley Cup? Or will his terrible track record of losing in the Stanley Cup Final continue?