Oilers Corey Perry Avoids Discipline From Player Safety After Dirty Hit on Predators Forward
Oilers forward Corey Perry appears to have dodged extra discipline by the NHL Department of Players Safety after cross checking Luke Evangelista in the face.
The hit took place in the second period with 5:09 remaining when the Predators were buzzing around the Oilers net. Evangelista was close to Calvin Pickard when Perry was standing nearby and launched his stick to Evangelista's face.
The referee was quick to whistle, and Perry skated off to the penalty box and received 2 minutes for cross checking. The Predators did not score on the powerplay.
This type of hit has been deemed by some fans as a dirty hit and uncalled for as Perry has been notorious to making the opponents life miserable if they are around his goaltender. This hit could have resulted in a fine from the department of players safety and others haven't with Perry dodging one.
This season has not been great for the 39-year-old forward as the Oilers have not used his services often. Through 17 games, he has scored three goals with one assist for four points and has 14 penalty minutes. This season has been the worst for average ice time as he currently is averaging 11:15 per game.
This is the second season for Perry and the Oilers after he was cut from the Blackhawks late last fall due to an internal team issue. It's clear his leadership and veteran presence has been valuable to the Oilers as he was re-signed for another season.
It remains to be seen on how head coach Kris Knoblauch will continue to use his skills for the team but the forth line is where Perry will remain for the remainder of the season.
The Oilers will be on the road to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team heads to an Eastern Canada road trip. The game will be held on November 16th and game time will be 7:00pm eastern.
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