Reunite Getzlaf and Perry for Game Seven

When the Ducks lost to the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, Corey Perry went all seven games without a goal. Now in 2016, he is in danger of repeating the same thing against the Nashville Predators. The big difference is that in 2013, Perry was still getting his chances, and lots of them.

Since 2007-08 (the first season of Corsica' data), Perry has attempted 16.09 shots per 60 in the regular season, and 16.25 in the playoffs. (For some reason, Corsica data does not show Perry's performance in the 2008 playoffs, but since he only played three games that year, it isn't all that relevant.) In 2013 against the Red Wings, he attempted 16.01 shots per 60, just under his career norm. In other words, he was getting chances but not finishing on them. That kind of thing happens all the time to goal scorers, and unfortunately for the Ducks that year, it happened at the worst possible time.

Data from Corsica.hockey

This year, as you can see, is a completely different animal. Perry has attempted 8.51 shots per 60 in these six playoff games. That's half a shot better than half his career norm. And it's not as if 15-16 was a terrible regular season for the former Hart Trophy winner; his 15.52 iCF60 was only slightly below normal.

So what gives? Part of the problem, I suspect, is that Peter Laviolette has game planned around shutting Perry down, and it's working. But this isn't the first time Perry has faced a well-coached elite defense, so there's got to be more going on. Perhaps he's playing injured, or perhaps he's just slowing down. If that's the case, there's not much anyone can do. The only thing that is certain is that his linemates — Nate Thompson and a not-yet-completely-healthy Rickard Rakell — aren't doing him any favors.

This is the only postseason in which Perry has not played the majority of his even strength minutes with Ryan Getzlaf. The captain, I might add, is currently out-producing his career shot attempts per 60, both individually and total on-ice, which is incredible.

If Bruce Boudreau is coaching for his job on Wednesday (fair or not), perhaps he ought to return to the formula that's done so much for him in the past. And if the Twins are playing for their legacy (fair or not), they ought to be given the chance to do it the same way they've done every other noteworthy thing in their careers: together.