Perreault’s optimism takes hit

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This article was published 23/01/2017 (3155 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you noticed a revival in Mathieu Perreault’s game before another untimely injury Monday night, you’re not alone. 

The veteran Winnipeg Jets forward has been a mystery man for most of the NHL season, missing 14 games with a lower-body injury in November and, once he returned to the lineup, never looking much like the man heralded as the club’s prize free-agent catch prior to the 2014-15 season.

He looked slow and his offensive production had tanked.

He had one goal and three points after 11 games and just four goals and 11 points through 31 games — a far cry from the 41 points he registered in each of his first two seasons in Winnipeg. 

Earlier Monday, Perreault spoke hopefully about getting healthy again and finally turning his season around. He had five points in the four games before Monday night’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Anaheim Ducks and had been getting traction playing the left side with linemates Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler.

But Perreault left Monday’s game three shifts into the first period after taking a slash on his left hand from Anaheim forward Corey Perry, who was not penalized on the play.

Perreault did not return and will not play tonight at the MTS Centre against the San Jose Sharks. 

Perreault credited a change of scenery as key to the turnaround. The Jets will need improved production to help justify the four-year, US$16.5-million contract extension that kicks in next year. He has four goals and 16 points in 35 games so far.

“It was one of those injuries where I took some time to try to get rid of it,” said Perreault Monday morning.

“It got better, but it never really went away. It was just good enough for me to play. I battled through it, played with it a long time…

“Even now, I don’t feel like I’m faster, but my quickness is back to where it was. My hands feel quicker. I feel as good as I can.” 

Perreault has been more involved in the offensive zone, creating multiple scoring chances, but hasn’t scored since Jan. 11 against the Montreal Canadiens.

On Saturday, against the St. Louis Blues, he was denied twice on Grade A chances by rookie goaltender Pheonix Copley. 

“The last couple of weeks, my energy level is as high as it can be,” said Perreault. “I had two assists, should’ve had two goals. I’ve been getting chances and I’ve been getting to pucks, stripping the D. Having that second and third effort.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice has watched Perreault’s early season tribulations with concern.

“He had a pretty significant injury that he sat out with and it wasn’t something he could really work on while rehabbing, so he came back into the lineup as healthy but not right,” said Maurice. “And then he got really sick in Florida (during an early January road trip) and carried that for seven to 10 days…

“Now he’s healthy, he’s got enough time on the ice that he feels back to being physically normal… Matty’s just such an incredibly competitive guy, so when he plays and you notice it. And the effort level — if that’s not there — he just doesn’t look right.”

Playing with Little and Wheeler would be a good slump-buster for just about anyone.

Perreault also believes moving to the wing, freed from the shackles of a centre’s normal defensive responsibilities, has added dimension to his offensive game.

“Getting my confidence (up) as well, with Blake and Bryan the way they forecheck,” said Perreault. “It helps my game, definitely. I think being a winger, too. It takes a lot of energy for me to play down low.

“If you look back two years ago, when I first got here, I signed as a centre, I started the year as a centre and I had a struggle to start the year. I had zero goals in 20 games and they moved me to the wing and it kinda exploded for me because I could use the energy that I have more for offence.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca          

Twitter: @sawa14