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Oilers analyst calls out NHL Player Safety for failing to take action against hit on Corey Perry
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Referees can become more lenient with penalty calls in the playoffs, but a hit on Oilers forward Corey Perry in Game 3 was far too dangerous to be let go.
The 39 year old veteran Perry is now one of the league's best pests, and has called upon his Oilers teammates to stick up for each other more, especially after dirty hits like this.
NHL Player Safety and referees missed call on predatory hit against Corey Perry
Midway through the second period, Kings forward Samuel Helenius took an awful run at Corey Perry. Helenius came in with speed to line up Perry directly from behind, a few feet away from the boards.
How the referees were able to miss such an obvious penalty call is beyond comprehension for most hockey fans. It's clearly a dangerous boarding penalty.
When the referees fail to call dangerous plays like this, it's the role of Player Safety to step up with supplemental discipline. A fine for Helenius should've been an easy decision for Parros at Player Safety, but the NHL somehow elected not to.
Penalty differential still majorly in favour of Los Angeles Kings in Oilers series
So far through this year's playoffs, the Oilers have been assessed 5 more penalties than the Los Angeles Kings - and one penalty against LA was for a coach's challenge.
There's been clear missed calls against LA just like this hit on Perry, which is irking Oilers fans that they've had less opportunities with the man advantage.
The Oilers powerplay and penalty kill will both need to vastly improve to give them a chance to come back and win this series. Having less chances on the powerplay and missing obvious penalties against the Kings won't help their cause.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 26 | 1050 ANSWERS Oilers analyst calls out NHL Player Safety for failing to take action against hit on Corey Perry Do you think the refs have called a fair series between the Oilers and Kings? | ||
| Yes | 152 | 14.5 % |
| No | 898 | 85.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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