Veteran NHL forward Corey Perry found himself at the center of controversy after the Edmonton Oilers’ 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference final. The 40-year-old was caught taunting 21-year-old rookie Lian Bichsel after a postgame scrum, sparking backlash from fans across social media.
NHL Fans Slam Corey Perry for Mockery of Lian Bichsel
The incident happened as tensions boiled over at the final buzzer. The Oilers had led 3-1 entering the third period, but a five-goal burst by the Stars — including three power-play goals in the first 10 minutes — turned the game around.
As players clashed after the whistle, Perry targeted Bichsel, who appeared to turtle rather than fight. Perry responded by mocking the young defenseman, drawing widespread criticism online.
GLOVES ARE DROPPED AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE 😱 pic.twitter.com/iiBN36pdjW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce)
The reaction was swift. Fans called Perry a “cheap shot artist” and said the move was unnecessary, especially after the Oilers’ third-period collapse.
“Let’s see him square up to Bichsel 1-on-1. Bet he won’t. That’s not Perry’s style,” one user posted on X.
Another added, “Perry’s mad he’s getting destroyed on the Ice by a 21-year-old.”
Perry’s mad he’s getting destroyed on the Ice by a 21 year old 😂😂😂
— JR (@cryptostrat_)
Perry has a long history of playoff mind games, but many felt this crossed a line, especially with no personal history between the two. Some fans also pointed out that Perry had little impact in Game 1. He took a third-period penalty that led to Dallas’ tying goal and didn’t register a point.
While Perry has five goals and seven points in 12 playoff games this year, his Game 1 performance didn’t measure up in terms of discipline or contribution. Still, he’s no stranger to playoff antics.
Last year, Perry made headlines for pretending to jab his stick at Vancouver’s Brock Boeser during a stoppage. He’s known to get under opponents’ skin, but critics argue the act is getting old, especially when it follows a loss.
What’s Next for the Oilers?
Perry’s role in this series is clear: be a veteran presence and playoff agitator.
However, the pressure is mounting for him to make a real impact on the scoreboard. His 227 games of playoff experience are a key reason Edmonton signed him, but the team needs more than off-the-puck antics to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Oilers trail 0-1 in the series and need to regroup quickly before Game 2. With the series heading to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4, the team needs a bounceback — and Perry needs to shift his focus toward results.
MORE: Oilers Fans Point to Key Mistakes After Game 1 Loss to Stars
Meanwhile, the Stars didn’t flinch at the veteran antics. Led by Tyler Seguin’s three-point performance and Miro Heiskanen’s two third-period goals, Dallas controlled the game when it mattered. Bichsel, despite the mocking, played a hard, physical game and avoided Perry’s bait, a move many saw as mature.
As the series intensifies, Perry will stay under the microscope. Whether he channels his experience into leadership or more mind games remains to be seen, but everyone’s watching.