Winter Classic 2020: Dallas Stars wing Corey Perry ejected for elbowing
It didn’t take long for the Winter Classic 2020 to get personal. Dallas Stars wing Corey Perry started the action less than three minutes in by elbowing Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis in the head.
Dallas Stars wing Corey Perry was likely looking forward to the Winter Classic 2020 at the Cotton Bowl in Texas. After all, he hadn’t played in an outdoor game since the Stadium Series in 2014 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Perry’s day didn’t last too long, though, as he was ejected less than three minutes into the game. The Stars wing, who certainly has a history of being a physical player, elbowed Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis. Ellis had to leave the game and might have a concussion.
The hit was reviewed by the situation room, which was actually on site instead of in Toronto like it usually is. They deemed Perry’s hit warranted a major penalty and a game misconduct. He had to do quite the walk of shame, as he initially was in the penalty box while the situation room reviewed the hit.
Perry then had to make quite possibly the saddest walk a player has ever had to make, walking all the way from the rink to the locker room, which is quite the distance in the Cotton Bowl. Ellis had to be helped off the ice after staying on the ice for well over a minute.
The penalty wound up being a triple whammy for the Dallas Stars. Not only did they lose Perry, one of their veteran leaders, but they also wound up giving up two power play goals to the Predators on the ensuing five minute power play. That’s just the fourth time this season the Predators have picked up more than one power play goal in a game.
Perry is the first player to get a game misconduct during a Winter Classic since Scott Hartnell back in 2012. And assuming he gets suspended (which appears likely), he would be the first player in NHL history to be suspended for what he did at the Winter Classic.
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It has been a rather rough season for Perry, who was bought out by the Anaheim Ducks during the 2019 offseason. He signed a one-year deal with the Stars. In 33 games, Perry has 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points.