Perry's OT heroics making up for disappointing regular season
Corey Perry continues to show a flair for the dramatic in the playoffs, and he's turning his underwhelming regular season into a distant memory.
The Anaheim Ducks winger scored his third overtime winner of the 2017 postseason Thursday night in a Game 4 victory over the Nashville Predators, and while it deflected in off P.K. Subban's stick, Perry will take it.
The goal put him in some elite company, too. Perry tied the NHL record for most playoff overtime winners in a single season, equaling the mark set by Maurice "Rocket" Richard in 1951 and Mel Hill in 1939.
Perry is also in some impressive company on the all-time list.
| Player | Career Playoff OT Goals |
|---|---|
| Joe Sakic | 8 |
| Maurice Richard | 6 |
| Glenn Anderson | 5 |
| Patrick Kane | 5 |
| Corey Perry | 4 |
As if that isn't enough, he tied Teemu Selanne for the most career game-winning playoff goals in Ducks history, notching his eighth Thursday night.
Perry's emergence as a recurring overtime hero for Anaheim this spring comes after the veteran posted his worst output from a goal-scoring standpoint in a non-lockout campaign since 2006-07.
He scored 19 goals in 82 games before these playoffs began, a far cry from the 34 markers he netted last season and a significant drop-off from the 35.6 goals he's averaged in the eight years since he potted 17 in his first full season 10 years ago.
Perry has some miles on him at this point in his career, and sure, some of his goals are going in off sticks and from odd angles, but he's showing he can still produce when it matters most.