Reunited top line powers Jets past Canucks in 3-2 OT win

VANCOUVER – Knowing a run will be required to make things interesting, the Winnipeg Jets came out of the Olympic break mostly playing with authority.

Sure, there was some rust to shake off, but after overcoming a pair of one-goal deficits, forward Cole Perfetti scored at 1:37 of overtime to propel the Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday at Rogers Arena.

“In that first period, he had some unreal looks and some great opportunities, so it’s nice to see him get rewarded at the end of the game with that winner,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “There was some systems stuff that I’m real happy that we did. There were some mistakes where you can tell it was from guys not playing for a couple of weeks. You didn’t have to really tell them when they came back to the bench. They recognized it.

“We were trying to do some things to play faster and to put the opposition on their heels and I thought we did that. Our (offensive) zone time was huge. If you (have) that, you’ve got the opposition on their heels.”

The Jets, who improved to 23-26-8 on the season, continue this three-game road trip on Friday at Honda Center against the Anaheim Ducks.

Here’s what else transpired in this one:

THE REUNION: Coming out of the break, Arniel opted to reunite the top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi.

The move paid immediate dividends as they combined for the Jets first two goals, both on brilliant passing plays from Scheifele.

On the Jets first goal, which tied the game 1-1, Scheifele made a no-look backhand pass to Connor, who was uncovered as he tapped in his 26th goal of the season.

Then with 1:15 to go in the second period, Scheifele had the puck down low and surveyed the situation before finding the stick of Vilardi in a high-traffic area for a redirection that made it 2-2.

“I thought we were good. We had a lot of good chances. Had some speed,” said Scheifele, who is up to 70 points in 57 games this season. “Nice to be back all together and just playing hockey again.”

For Vilardi, it was his 22nd goal of the season.

Scheifele also has 27 goals, giving the trio a total of 75 for the season.

“I reunited them and I knew that coming down the stretch here, we’re going to need their offence,” said Arniel. “They were real good, right from the get-go. But the thing I liked about KC is that he’s one of our best (back) trackers. He’s one of the guys that (comes) back on that line and helps to defend. He’s a real solid two-way player for us.”

FINDING BALANCE: One of the issues for the Jets has been finding enough secondary scoring, but part of the reason Arniel felt comfortable going back to the dynamic trio was the improved play of captain Adam Lowry and Perfetti.

Lowry, Perfetti and Alex Iafallo were highly effective in this game, using a strong cycle game to generate offensive opportunities.

Perfetti had six shot attempts — most of which were of the high-danger variety — through two periods alone and finished with nine in the game, including a first period wrister that clanged off the crossbar.

“I could have had a hat-trick in the first period,” said Perfetti, who is up to seven goals and 19 points in 43 games this season. “When you are getting those chances and looks, that is what matters. The puck is going to go in eventually.

“You are not going to beat the goalie every single time and I hit a crossbar in there, too. It is all about getting those looks and when you get four or five shots a game from high-quality spaces the puck is going to go in.”

THE KEY PLAY: Perfetti secured the extra point for the Jets by roofing a shot at 1:37 of overtime.

THE THREE STARS

Cole Perfetti, Jets: Scored the game-winning goal, had four shots on goal.

Mark Scheifele, Jets: Recorded two assists.

Evander Kane, Canucks: Scored a goal, had four shots on goal.

THE PROMOTION: Speaking of the power play, the absence of Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk meant that Logan Stanley was running the top unit.

Stanley did a nice job of distributing the puck and was a dangerous shooting option on the man-advantage.

“I’ve talked with (Scheifele) about it and he kind of said ‘you’re not trying to please us. Whatever you see up there, if you see the shot, take it,’” said Stanley. “The two guys on the flank (Scheifele and Connor) are pretty good, so I’m just trying to make a simple play and give them the puck and let them do the work. When something happens, try not to end plays and keep things going.”

Stanley’s ability to get shots through from the point was on display both at even strength and on the power play, as he finished with five shots on goal and nine shot attempts.

Stanley took 26 shifts for a team-high 25:34 of ice time.

THE RETURN: With the rash of injuries to the defence corps, the door opened for Ville Heinola to make his season debut with the Jets.

Heinola skated on the third pairing with Luke Schenn and also had an opportunity to run the second power play, finishing with two shots on goal, two hits and a blocked shot in 13:44 of ice time.

Suiting up in his first NHL game since last April, Heinola showed plenty of confidence and forced Canucks forward Nils Hoglander to take a hooking minor midway through the second period to give the Jets a power play.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Eric Comrie made his 20th start of the season (tying his career high) and finished with 21 saves as he improved to 10-9-1. Comrie has allowed just five goals during his past five starts, lowering his goals-against average to 3.01.

The Jets improved to 3-8 in overtime this season and recorded their first extra time victory of any kind since Nov. 15 against Calgary Flames, snapping a string of eight consecutive losses in that category.

The healthy scratches for the Jets were defenceman Kale Clague and forward Walker Duehr.

Former Jets D-man Tyler Myers was a late scratch for roster maintenance purposes. Myers, who has one more year on his deal that includes an AAV of US $3 million, is a trade target and is reported to be mulling over a potential move to a contender. Myers has a full no-movement clause, essentially giving him control of the situation.

The Manitoba Moose earned a 3-2 overtime victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday in American Hockey League action at Van Andel Arena. Phil Di Giuseppe scored the OT winner at 2:21 of the extra session. Sam Fagemo (with his 14th, which ties him with captain Mason Shaw for the team lead) and Isaak Phillips also scored for the Moose, who got 25 saves from Thomas Milic.

The Moose, who continue a three-game road trip on Saturday against the Milwaukee Admirals, improved to 25-24-4-1 and went into Thursday’s action in third place in the Central Division, one point clear of the Texas Stars.

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