Seeing Corey Perry step back on the ice for practice Tuesday must have been a sight for sore eyes for an Anaheim Ducks team that sits one point out of a playoff spot with 32 games remaining on their schedule.
Perry participated in drills with teammates while wearing a red non-contact jersey.
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 22, 2019
The 33-year-old winger hasn’t skated in a regular-season game in 2018-19 after tearing his meniscus and injuring a ligament in his right knee prior to a pre-season game in late September. He was expected to miss approximately five months after undergoing surgery.
It remains unclear when Perry might be available to make his debut.
The 2011 Hart Memorial Trophy winner suited up for 957 games between 2005-06 and 2017-18. During that time his 366 goals ranked eighth behind Alex Ovechkin (607), Sidney Crosby (411), Eric Staal (384), Patrick Marleau (382), Rick Nash (379), Jarome Iginla (375) and Evgeni Malkin (370) and his 766 points ranks 17th.
The Ducks have struggled mightily of late and were it not for the outstanding play from goaltender John Gibson this team likely wouldn’t be anywhere close to playoff contention.
Anaheim has scored the second-fewest goals in the league, allowed the third-most shots against and has registered the fewest shots on goal. The team recently snapped a 12-game losing streak but that hasn’t stopped general manager Bob Murray from aggressively retooling his roster.
Murray has traded away Andrew Cogliano, Jared Coreau, Pontus Aberg, Luke Schenn and Joseph Blandisi all within the past three weeks, getting back Devin Shore, Justin Kloos, Michael Del Zotto and Derek Grant in return.
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