Perfetti fills his hat

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This article was published 24/01/2025 (239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As he stood in front of reporters and fielded questions, Cole Perfetti was using words that you don’t normally associate with the mostly mild-mannered and polite Winnipeg Jets forward.

To be clear, Perfetti was in the midst of a lengthy goal-scoring slump that was at 14 games before Friday’s game against Utah HC when he detailed some of the ways he’d be working to round out his game during the dry spell.

You could understand why Perfetti was talking about getting under the skin of his opponents rather than taking questions about his excellent vision and hockey sense.

“I feel, obviously the production might not be there in the sense of the stat sheet and stuff like that, but I feel like I’m really starting to play really good hockey all over the ice,” Perfetti said after the morning skate.

“That’s what I’m trying to focus on, being harder on the puck, harder on the walls, kind of being a little prick to play against, not being fun to play against.

“Be annoying, reliable in all zones. Eventually the production is going to come, the offensive side of it will come. How can I affect the game if I’m not scoring or if I’m not getting production? And if I’m able to still look myself in the mirror and say I contributed to this win, that’s a successful game.”

The words he spoke were backed up with action when the puck dropped for the game.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, Perfetti was being celebrated and showered by a plethora of hats that were tossed onto the ice after he recorded his first NHL hat trick in what was a 5-2 victory at Canada Life Centre.

Perfetti, who was limited to two assists during the previous 14 games, scored once on the power play after a brilliant cross-ice feed from Nikolaj Ehlers, converted a pass from Vladislav Namestnikov on the backdoor after getting to the blue paint and then completed the hat trick into an empty net to close out the scoring.

“You guys (in the media) got him all mad this morning,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

“He’s one year older, he’s learned from things that have happened in the past. He gets frustrated, but he doesn’t get down and let it drag into the rest of his game.

“He did a great job of getting to the net. He got inside and he got some greasy goals. For guys not scoring, that gets you off and running.”

Perfetti, who finished with eight shot attempts in the game, was also involved physically in the contest, finishing with a team-high three hits while also getting under the skin of Logan Cooley, who slashed the Jets forward after the whistle, but was not penalized on the play.

“I don’t know. I’ve got to talk to you guys more often,” Perfetti joked after the game. “Just trying to, again, focus on the input on the small things, doing every little detail as best I can and the play is going to develop for you kind of thing.

“When it’s your night, it just kind of bounces your way. I haven’t had those bounces lately, but I’m just trying to be consistent with my game and you get rewarded eventually.”

The Jets, who improved to 33-14-3, return to action on Sunday at 5 p.m. with a rematch from last Saturday against the Calgary Flames who defeated the Jets 3-1 last Saturday..

Let’s take a closer look at this one:

THE MILESTONE

Ehlers stole the puck from Utah HC D-man Michael Kesserling in the neutral zone and then sped in on a breakaway, slipping his backhand off the right pad of Ingram and in.

That goal made it a 4-2 game and provided some valuable insurance for the Jets, who were looking to avenge a shoddy effort against Utah on Monday in Salt Lake City.

By notching three points in the contest, Ehlers is up to 42 points in 41 games this season and he’s up to 500 points for his NHL career.

The performance was even more impressive when you consider Ehlers was a game-time decision after missing the morning skate with an illness.

“You don’t want to know how I woke up this morning. Obviously not the greatest day, health-wise, for an NHL game. But you know what, I felt better throughout the day and I feel good now, so I’m glad I could be out there,” said Ehlers. “I’ve played feeling much worse than that.”

Asked who would be getting the puck as a memento — Ehlers for 500 or Perfetti for his first hat trick — the Danish forward took charge.

“Oh, I’m taking that one. I’m older,” said Ehlers, noting there would be more hat tricks coming for his linemate. “(Five-hundred points) is special. But what’s the most special is doing it here at home.”

THE CAROM

During the second period, Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo wound up for a routine dump-in, but his play turned into a primary assist when the puck hit a stanchion and bounced right in front.

With Utah HC goalie Connor Ingram departing the crease to try and knock the puck down, David Gustafsson came off the bench and found himself staring at a wide-open net.

Gustafsson fired the puck home for his first goal of the season.

After going 16 games without a point, Gustafsson has points in consecutive contests after recording an assist on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

THE SCARE(S)

Two Jets players went to the room — albeit briefly — and another was shaken up after blocking a shot.

Jets centre Mark Scheifele was the first to depart after blocking a shot late in the first period, though he returned to play the final shift before the buzzer and finished the game.

Mason Appleton was drilled by a Josh Morrissey shot and went down in pain, but was able to walk things off in the tunnel and didn’t miss a shift.

Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg also blocked a shot with his left hand that stung him, but he didn’t miss a shift either.

KEY PLAY

Cole Perfetti’s second goal of the game proves to be the game-winner at 5:51 of the third period.

THE THREE STARS

1. Cole Perfetti, Jets, First career NHL hat trick, 3 hits.

2. Nikolaj Ehlers, Jets, 1 goal, 3 points.

3. Dylan DeMelo, Jets, 2 assists.

EXTRA, EXTRA

Forward Brad Lambert was recalled from the Manitoba Moose on Friday morning and took part in the pre-game skate, since Ehlers was a game-time decision. Lambert, who suited up in four games with the Jets earlier this season, has three goals and 16 points in 29 American Hockey League games this season.

“Every chance to be up here is an opportunity to learn something new and get more experience up here,” said Lambert.

The Jets went one-for-one on the power play on Friday, but it’s the lack of opportunities on the man advantage that has been interesting to monitor.

The Jets’ other healthy scratches were defencemen Colin Miller and Ville Heinola.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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