‘He’s trying to draw them in, piss them off, and get out of their comfort zone. I can do that but it’s wasting too much energy.’ — Nikita Zadorov on Corey Perry
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The game within the game has never gone away.
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It’s more than push leading to shove when testosterone levels rise in the NHL playoffs.
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It’s verbal taunts, illegal stick work, cheap shots, or accidentally-on-purpose getting to the net and making tactful contact with the goaltender.
The Edmonton Oilers have a pair of villains in Corey Perry and Evander Kane. They will do anything to mess up your day, and with the Vancouver Canucks sporting 10 playoff newbies, expect exuberance in the second-round series.
“This is the best time of year,” Perry said Wednesday following a game-day skate. “This is why we play the game, to be in these situations.”
However, it’s how Perry plays that will draw situational attention. His nickname is “The Worm” because he somehow wiggles out of obvious infractions.
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He has scored 50 goals, won a Stanley Cup, Hart Trophy and The Rocket Richard Trophy. But being a pest is what he does best, and the Oilers added that element in January to fill a playoff void.
On a list of top-10 NHL villains in the last decade, Perry ranked fourth behind Brad Marchand, Tom Wilson and Nazem Kadri, and ahead of Matthew Tkachuk, Ryan Reeves, Sam Bennett, Jacob Trouba, Jordan Binnington and P.K. Subban.
Perry has played for six teams. He was suspended four games for an elbow, and another four with an illegal hit to the head. He also got five games for another elbow to the head.
His contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in November for “engaging in conduct that was unacceptable” for a safe work place. Perry admitted to mental health and alcohol issues, and his latest lease on hockey life has looked like a rambunctious rewind.
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He took a goalie-interference infraction in the second game of a 2024 first-round series domination of the Los Angeles Kings. It was costly because the Oilers lost 5-4 in overtime, but they rebounded to advance in five games.
In Perry’s world, it was mission accomplished. He gave the Kings something to think about. Imagine what he’s thinking knowing the Canucks have a young and inexperienced third-string stopper in Arturs Silovs — who has been spectacular — protected and the talk of the town?
Perry’s straight-line trajectory is right out of the book of winning the psychological war of leaving the opposition distracted.
“It’s something I’ve always been involved in and it keeps me involved in the game,” said the 38-year-old, third-line irritant. “It just fuels me. If I’m not doing that, I’m not being myself and playing the way I want.
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“They are things I don’t constantly think about, but when you’re not 22 or 23, you have to adapt and change.”
That means keeping Silovs from tracking pucks, crowding his crease, and initiating some level of contact to test this nerve and resolve.
“Everything is a fine line,” added Perry. “Everything you do, there’s a line you can’t cross, but you play that game within the game. You have to keep doing that. We know he (Silovs) was great in the first series.
“We don’t know a whole lot about him, but we’ve watched a little bit. He’s big, and when goalies can’t see the puck, it’s probably beneficial for the team shooting pucks.”
Which is a nice way of saying: Look out.
As for Kane, 32, he’s an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Blessed with speed and talent, he can be a difference-maker or distraction. He often takes out his frustration on the opposition to match frustration he’s often feeling with any organization he skates for.
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Kane will take a direct route on the forecheck to disrupt the Canucks’ break-out and will put Quinn Hughes in his contact crosshairs. It gets him going.
In the opening round, the Vancouver native had 10 high-danger shots to tie for the team lead. He also had three points (2-1) and 15 penalties minutes. He sat out late in the regular season and admitted to a sports-hernia injury — isn’t that Long Term Injury Relief territory? — and it only added to the ongoing drama.
If that wasn’t enough, his late-season meltdown with Perry on the bench was captured on camera. It looked like a gigantic parting of the ways, but Kane never gave it a second thought.
“The world we live in, everybody’s very sensitive and safe and soft, for lack of a better term,” he said. “So, I think when guys — two veteran guys, specifically — show a little emotion, people are uncomfortable. But I think me and him are the least uncomfortable in those situations.”
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Which could make the Canucks uncomfortable.
Nikita Zadorov has his own take on the postseason. The hulking Canucks defenceman has logged 52 career games and knows what awaits in the second round. There will be villains, like Perry.
“He’s trying to get under guys’ skin, draw them in, piss them off, get them off their game and out of their comfort zone,” he said Wednesday. “For me, I can do that, but feel it’s wasting too much energy.
“I’m trying to be physical within the rules, most of the time. When you play 20 or 22 minutes and then you trash-talk a whole team for a whole game — and do that for seven games — you’re just going to have no energy. But I’m not a fan of the cheap shot.”
NEXT GAME
Round 2, Game 2, Stanley Cup Playoffs
When/Where: Friday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena
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TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportnet 650
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