Kevin Bieksa Rips Vancouver Canucks For Lack of Response to Corey Perry Roughing Up Quinn Hughes
Photo credit: Greg Southam /Postmedia
Former Canuck Kevin Bieksa ripped the team on Hockey Night in Canada for their lack of response on Thursday to Corey Perry roughing up captain Quinn Hughes.
After a rough meeting between the two teams on January 18th, which resulted in three-game suspensions for Tyler Myers and Connor McDavid, everyone was expecting some fireworks on Thursday as the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks played each other for the final time this season.
The game ended up being a bit more tame than most expected, but the Vancouver Canucks got themselves into some penalty trouble, resulting in a pair of power play goals from Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
However, there was one moment in the second period that left Vancouver Canucks fans and even some analysts pretty frustrated.
At the halfway point of the second period, the two teams were engaged in a scrum down in the Edmonton zone after Conor Garland tapped at the pads of Calvin Pickard while attempting to get a loose puck.
During the scrum, Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry was looking was looking for an opponent and grabbed Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and threw him to the ice.
While Elias Pettersson attempted to get at Corey Perry, he was grabbed by Adam Henrique and eventually, the dust settled with only eight penalties minutes in total being handed out for the scrum.
As the buzzer sounded at the end of the second period, Sportsnet's cameras caught Corey Perry and J.T. Miller having some words and it's safe to say the Canucks forward was telling the Oiler that he wasn't happy with him touching their captain.
Kevin Bieksa calls out the Vancouver Canucks for lack of response
During the intermission on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who was who was recently named to their Quarter Century Team, wasn't happy with the team's lack of response after Perry roughed up Quinn Hughes and was frustrated that no one stood up for their captain.
"Here's my opinion on it. Quinn Hughes is an untouchable in Vancouver. He's your one untouchable, much like McDavid. So when someone takes a shot at McDavid on the ice. I don't care if you're Conor Garland, I don't care if you're the backup goaltender on the bench, everybody is getting out of their comfort zone and their going over and protecting Hughes doing whatever it takes, right? Much like a McDavid." Bieksa said.
He added, There's very few untouchables in the league. I think Quinn Hughes should be an untouchable, like Connor, to Vancouver. So I don't care who are on the Canucks, when your captain is being treated like that, you drop whatever you're doing and you gang tackle whoever that guy is going after him."
He added, There's very few untouchables in the league. I think Quinn Hughes should be an untouchable, like Connor, to Vancouver. So I don't care who are on the Canucks, when your captain is being treated like that, you drop whatever you're doing and you gang tackle whoever that guy is going after him."
Teddy Blueger made an attempt to fight Corey Perry in the third period, but the Oilers forward wouldn't drop the mitts and the Canucks forward was given a two-minute minor for roughing.
Aside from Blueger in the final frame, Vancouver Canucks fans and even Quinn Hughes can't be too happy about the response, but they have to put it behind them now because the club doesn't face the Oilers again this season, so there won't be an opportunity to get back at Corey Perry.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 26 | 294 ANSWERS Kevin Bieksa Rips Vancouver Canucks For Lack of Response to Corey Perry Roughing Up Quinn Hughes Do you agree with Kevin Bieksa that the Vancouver Canucks should've done more to stand up for their captain? | ||
| Yes, absolutely | 290 | 98.6 % |
| No, Corey Perry wouldn't fight anyone | 4 | 1.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
