That's Embarrassing

Corey Perry is a talented hockey player.

He's a perfect complement to the distributing style of Ryan Getzlaf, as Perry possesses an uncanny snap-shot that leaves even the league's best goalies shaking their heads. He's also known for his vision and passing ability, especially in tight quarters. Witness his distribution on this passing play to Ryan Getzlaf, where he just fires the puck off his backhand without looking to see where Getzlaf is. Naturally, it lands right in the middle of the stick for a goal.



And last night in Anaheim, Perry tried to make a similar play when faced with a 3-2 deficit late in a game. This time he circled to his forehand, looking for a player to make a move to the front of the net.

Unfortunately for him, the puck careened off the side of the Oilers net, and proceeded to slide 200 feet towards the Ducks goal, before bouncing in for the sixth, and final goal in the 4-2 Edmonton Oiler victory.

And though Tom Gilbert got the credit for the goal, Perry got a highlight that's going to easily qualify for #1 on the ESPN Not Top 10.
(That is, if ESPN showed any hockey)

Other thoughts:

1) Yes, that's 18-year-old Taylor Hall putting up the choking sign. In fact, the entire Edmonton bench basically erupts into laughter watching this play. Look for Head Coach Tom Renney stepping down from the bench to hide behind his players as he laughs.

2) It's not on the above version of the play, but the Edmonton feed shows Ryan Whitney giving a giant sigh of relief after this goal goes in. He did not want to be the repeat of Patrik Stefan, who missed an open net, only to have his opponent score on him.

3) The entire Edmonton bench stands up when this puck goes down the ice. Anaheim? They just sit there stunned at the turn of events. If you want to get a feel for a team, look at the bench and its reaction to plays.

4) Perry left the ice with 15.4 seconds left. It's one of the few times you'll ever see a hockey player leave before the game is over.

5) That song playing in the background? "Stranglehold", by Ted Nugent. Even the sound guy for Anaheim knew what was going on.