Prime-time Perfetti

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This article was published 11/03/2025 (195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was around this time last season Cole Perfetti saw his job slipping away, the result of a couple big trade deadline additions that left him on the outside looking in as a perpetual healthy scratch heading down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Now? The 23-year-old is a key driver on the NHL’s No. 1 club, finding various ways to contribute and showing why a little faith in a young player can go a long way.

The latest example came Tuesday night when Perfetti took on the role of primary playmaker and helped the Winnipeg Jets down the New York Rangers 2-1 at Canada Life Centre.

Perfetti set up linemate Vlad Namestnikov for the opening goal early in the first period, then fed Gabe Vilardi for what proved to be the game-winner in the middle frame on the power play.

Add it all up and he set a new career-high, hitting 40 points for the first time.

“That’s pretty cool. (But) my goal this year has just been focusing on my play and the points will come,” said Perfetti.

The Jets improved to 45-17-4 and increased their Central Division lead over Dallas to eight points, although the Stars do own two games in hand. New York fell to 31-28-6 and remain just outside the final Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Let’s break this one down further:

OPTIMAL LINEUP, OPTIMAL RESULT: This was the first time all year Jets coach Scott Arniel had every player available, with no injuries to report and the additions of defenceman Luke Schenn (making his Jets debut) and forward Brandon Tanev last Friday.

In that sense, you figure this was Arniel’s optimal lineup, and perhaps exactly what we might see when the playoffs begin in mid-April. The Jets were pleased with how it looked, facing a desperate opponent in what turned into a physical, tight-checking affair.

“That was a hard fought game. We knew how desperate the Rangers were going to be, we certainly saw that,” said Arniel.

“That was, at times, a little bit of a track meet going both ways. Both specialty teams had to step up and it was a good game. Good goaltending. Came out the right side of it.”

Schenn certainly made an impact, with five blocks and five hits which led all players.

“At the end of the day, I just try to do whatever it takes to win. Obviously, that’s sort of my identity, and it always has been,” said Schenn.

“If I’m not doing that, then I’m not playing to the best of my abilities. It was a great crowd tonight. The building had a lot of great energy in it, the fans were on their feet at times in the third period especially, it’s exciting to play in front of a passionate fan base like this.”

Skating beside Haydn Fleury — who rendered Logan Stanley a healthy scratch for the first time all year — the two-time Stanley Cup champion was calm, cool and collected during his 16:02 of ice time.

“That’s obviously our base and that’s what the buy-in has been for us the last few years. He sees (it),” Arniel said of Schenn. “He was in our division. I know that for him, it makes it easier with that structure, having that kind of defence-first mentality. It makes it an easier game for him. That’s what he does well.”

Tanev also had a good night, registering three hits and showing why he’s a fan favourite by repeatedly mixing it up with New York players. He did take a minor penalty, getting too close to Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and bowling him over, but that’s the type of hard-nosed play the Jets have been looking for.

Stanley joined fellow defencemen Colin Miller and Ville Heinola and forwards Rasmus Kupari and David Gustafsson as the other healthy scratches.

There’s now plenty of internal competition for jobs — Perfetti can certainly relate — which should keep everyone on their toes going forward.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE: It was following the morning skate Namestnikov, speaking with media, showed a bit of frustration with how many good chances he and his linemates had created in recent games only to come up empty-handed.

“We need to kind of get through that little slump and start putting pucks in the net,” he said.

Mission accomplished, as Namestnikov snapped a 12-game scoring drought — and an eight-game pointless stretch — by deflecting Perfetti’s pass attempt for his 11th of the year. Ehlers made a terrific play to get the puck to Perfetti as Winnipeg’s second line got the scoring started.

There was some concern about Namestnikov’s availability after he took a hard shot to the head from Carolina forward Jordan Staal in Sunday’s 4-2 loss and was pulled from the game by concussion spotters. Fortunately, there was no lasting damage and Winnipeg’s second-line centre – a position they tried and failed to upgrade at the deadline – didn’t miss a beat.

“It’s a hockey game. Things happen. That’s the way they tried to respond,” Namestnikov said of becoming Public Enemy No. 1 after he laid out Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho earlier in the game. “I’ve got no problem with that. Play hard and sometimes checks like that happen. Just play through it.”

POWER PLAY STRIKES AGAIN: It’s not just how many power play goals you can score — something the Jets have done plenty this year — but also when you can find the back of the net.

You can mark Vilardi’s tally — his 27th of the year to give him 60 points for the first time in his career — as exactly that.

Perfetti normally isn’t on the top unit, but had taken the place of Ehlers after he and J.T. Miller got involved in a fracas early in the power play, which came after big Matt Rempe had been called for goaltender interference against Connor Hellebuyck.

His feed to Vilardi was a bit of a flub.

“I was going to take it to the net and then realized that Gabe, I think, was pretty open and tried to catch myself, and mishandled it in a good way to I guess fake everyone out,” he said.

“It was a little bit of a panic. I wanted to take it to the net and mishandled it and it worked out well.”

CLOSE CALLS: The Jets had several chances to increase the lead, including breakaways by Namestnikov and captain Adam Lowry in the second period and a goal by Dylan DeMelo early in the third period that was overturned following a challenge by the Rangers.

Officials determined Morgan Barron, who had gone into the blue paint on his own, didn’t allow Shesterkin to fully make an attempt to stop DeMelo’s shot.

That made for some dicey moments down the stretch, but the Jets held strong to their defensive structure, got some key blocks and clears and, of course, the usual exceptional goaltending from Hellebuyck who won for a league-leading 38th time in his league-leading 50th start.

“Well, they’re as advertised,” Schenn said of his new team.

“Obviously, playing them this year, it’s not by mistake that they’re in this position in the standings. The biggest thing I noticed is how much structure there is and how much detail there is on the defensive zone. Guys are in position and defending first. At the end of the day, that’s what wins in this league.”

KEY PLAY: Vilardi’s power play goal was the game-winner.

THREE STARS:

1. Jets LW Cole Perfetti: 2 assists

2. Jets C Vlad Namestnikov: 1 goal

3. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck: 21 saves

EXTRA EXTRA: The Jets went 1-for-4 on the power play and killed two of the three penalties they took, with Mika Zibanejad’s first-period strike the only blemish.

A crowd of 14,278 took in the game, which is slightly above the season average of 14,154. To put that in perspective, last year’s average was 13,490, while they were at 14,045 during the 2022-23 campaign.

The Jets paid tribute during the game to legendary Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen, who is retiring after the season. Winnipeg also honoured local female athletes Sara and Kate Manness, Skylar Park, and Leanne Taylor as part of their Celebrating Women In Sport night.

Dylan Samberg (200 games) and Fleury (300 games) both hit personal milestones.

The Jets will practise on Wednesday and Thursday to get ready for a huge showdown on Friday night with Dallas.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg