The Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning. In his last three years, Corey Perry reached the Stanley Cup Finals without winning.

At 37, Perry still has the same dream of returning to the big dance to win a second ring. A first since 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.

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In the Lightning dressing room, just hours before the game against CH, Perry spoke about his last three appearances in the finals.

“It’s always exciting when you can continue your season and reach the last stage, the final. But obviously I didn’t experience the end-scenario I wanted, the right winger recalled. The pain of defeat still burns within me. I hope for another chance. »

something abnormal

Perry probably doesn’t yet have the perspective needed to pull off the feat he’s accomplished with three straight appearances in the finals.

“It’s hard to be proud of when he has three losses,” said Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Perry’s linemate since last season. When you’re so close to the ultimate goal, it breaks your heart even more. »

“But if you look at him from the outside, I hope people will see the magnitude of his achievement,” continued the Frenchman. It’s not normal to reach the final three years in a row with three different teams. Corey ended up having three teams with different styles, but he still played such an important role. »

“I hope that one day he will be proud of it. At the end of his career he will not be able to say that he was not successful in his career due to his three defeats in the final. Conversely, it’s a really worthwhile thing. It’s still too fresh for Corey to realize. But in the end he will talk to hockey legends and the legends will tell him that it was an incredible achievement. »

A spark plug

Jon Cooper’s eyes still light up as he describes Perry’s impact on his team.

“There’s no coincidence with Corey,” the Lightning head coach emphasized. In his last three years, he appeared with three different teams in three finals. He was a three-team spark plug. He manages to calm down his teammates when emotions are running high. He is a professional in the truest sense of the word. »

“When he got to Tampa, he ended up with a team that had just won the Stanley Cup twice in a row. We already had good point guards but he found a way to fit in and be a bigger voice. »

Five more years!

Contract-wise, Perry is in the final year of a two-year deal with the Lightning, which pays him $1 million per season. The Ontarian still hasn’t thought about retirement.

“I think I have five years left,” Perry said with a smile when asked.

“I’m still having fun, I like being in an NHL locker room. I don’t think the time has come for me to stop. »

Regarding a possible retirement for Perry, Cooper referenced his nickname.

“I don’t know how many more seasons he can play. How long does a worm live? Probably 100 years old! But we want to count on him for a long time here in Tampa. He is a role model for the young players in our team, he always puts the interests of the group first. »

• Prior to the game against the Habs, Perry had appeared in the Lightning’s 32 games and had 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists).