Corey Perry discussed the moment that sparked one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Stanley Cup Final history. During the first intermission of Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers trailed 3-0 and looked completely out of sync.
That’s when Perry stepped in with a message that would change the tone of the game and possibly the entire series.
Corey Perry Ignites Oilers Comeback With Locker Room Message
The veteran forward didn’t offer what he called “words of wisdom.” Instead, he delivered honesty.
“We just had to realize where we were and kind of just look ourselves in the mirror,” Perry said.
“Well it wasn’t wisdom”
Corey Perry responding to what ‘words of wisdom’ he offered in the Oilers locker room during 1st intermission pic.twitter.com/F6NUejg1ob
TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 13, 2025
The Oilers responded with a surge. They scored three goals in the second period to erase the deficit and added a fourth in the third. Though Florida tied it late, Leon Draisaitl sealed the win in overtime with Perry on the ice. The win tied the series 2-2 and preserved Edmonton’s championship hopes.
How a Simple Message From Perry Shifted the Momentum in Game 4
No one in the Oilers locker room initially wanted to reveal what Perry said, but the impact was undeniable.
“When he speaks up, you listen,” Draisaitl said after the game. “He’s not a guy that speaks up or yells at guys all the time, that’s not his character. So, you know, when a guy like that, with that many games, that much experience, he’s won everything there is to win. When he speaks up, you listen. It grabs your attention.”
Game 4 was slipping away fast. The Oilers were down three goals, outshot 17-7, and had been called for three penalties, two of which led to power-play goals. They looked disjointed and flat, just 24 hours removed from a 6-1 drubbing in Game 3. Perry’s message shifted the mood instantly.
Perry, now 40, is no stranger to the Stanley Cup stage. He’s played in six Finals, winning just once, back in 2007 with Anaheim. Five of those appearances have come in the past six years, each ending in heartbreak. That kind of experience carries weight, especially in high-pressure moments like this.
His intermission speech is now being compared to Connor McDavid’s “Dig in!” rally cry during last year’s playoffs. And while Perry downplays the drama, saying it “wasn’t wisdom,” his timing couldn’t have been more critical.
As for retirement? That’s not in the cards yet.
“It’s just not in me,” Perry said when asked if he was considering stepping away. “You have that opportunity again this year to rewrite that script. The story’s not over.”
And it might not be. Perry didn’t score a goal or register an assist in Game 4, but he may have delivered the night’s play with his voice.