The Edmonton Oilers’ decision to return veteran forward Corey Perry to the lineup for Game 4 of the Western Conference final proved to be a wise one, as he played a key role in the team’s 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Perry, who had been a healthy scratch for the previous five games, was paired with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan McLeod on the second line and made an immediate impact.
Just minutes into the game, Perry drove the Dallas net and created a juicy rebound for McLeod to slam home, giving the Oilers the early lead. That goal seemed to spark the Oilers, who went on to score four more times and even the series at 2-2.
Perry’s performance was a welcome sight for the Oilers, who had struggled to generate offense in the playoffs. The 39-year-old veteran has a wealth of playoff experience, with 53 goals and 72 assists in 207 career playoff games. He has won the Stanley Cup once and was awarded the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 2011.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch praised Perry’s play after the game, saying that he played exactly the way the team needed him to. Knoblauch also praised Perry’s attitude while he was out of the lineup, saying that he was a great mentor for the younger players.
Perry’s return could be a significant factor for the Oilers as they try to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990. He is a proven winner who knows how to perform in the playoffs. With Perry back in the lineup, the Oilers have a much better chance of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.
In addition to Perry’s return, the Oilers also made two other lineup changes for Game 4, inserting defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Jesse Puljujarvi. All three players made significant contributions to the victory, and the Oilers will need them to continue to play well if they want to win the series.
