It looks like Corey Perry will play his first game for the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday against the visiting Nashville Predators. After practice on Friday, Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch told the media, “It looks like he’ll play (Saturday).” After formally joining the Oilers on Monday, Perry skated on the third line alongside Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod. His one-year contract worth $775,700 was signed with performance bonuses.
On Saturday, the Oilers look to win 16 games in a row, which would tie them for the second-longest winning streak in NHL history. The Columbus Blue Jackets of 2016–17 have won 16 straight games, one less than the record 17-game run set by the Pittsburgh Penguins of 1992–93. The Chicago Blackhawks announced in November that Perry had “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his standard player’s contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.” As a result, the team terminated Perry’s contract. Later, Perry apologized in a statement for his “inappropriate and wrong” actions.
The Oilers aim to tie the record for the second-longest winning streak in NHL history on Saturday if they win 16 straight games. With 16 wins in a row, the Columbus Blue Jackets of 2016–17 are one shy of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ record 17-game run from 1992–93. In November of last year, the Chicago Blackhawks made an announcement stating that Perry had “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his standard player’s contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.” Perry’s contract was subsequently terminated by the team. Perry later issued an apology for his “inappropriate and wrong” acts in a statement.