Perreault finally has something to show for hard work

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This article was published 18/11/2014 (3965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Mathieu Perreault doesn’t get to script how this all turns out. Nobody has that kind of pull with the hockey gods.

Oh sure, in a perfect world his first goal as a Winnipeg Jet would have come in his first game.

And so the fact it took 20 games for the veteran forward to score his first since signing as a free agent in the summer means the dramatic moment comes about 40 days late.

But when Perreault lifted a backhand over Cory Schneider for his first of the season in the second period of a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils Tuesday, there was undoubtedly a feeling that was part euphoria, part relief.

“It felt awesome, especially at home… it feels even better,” said Perreault. “The crowd is jumping. I’ve been working really hard lately and they just weren’t going in. I had the chances. I just kept working and eventually I knew it was going to go in.

“Hopefully this is just the start of more.”

It’s true, Perreault has been especially effective over the last 10 games or so but had very little to show for it on the scoresheet. But against the Devils he was moved back to centre from left wing on a line with Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien and the results were not only immediate, but provided a hint there could be more.

“He’s really been on the puck and has a high intensity level,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice. “He was very good on the wing. I was really happy with the way he was playing, I couldn’t prove that statistically to anybody, but I really liked the things he was doing on the wing.”

Perreault linked his recent turn for the better to an increased physicality in his game. He had a hit against the Devils and has focused on finishing checks all over the ice.

“It’s one of the things when I struggle getting points I always tell myself maybe to start throwing the body around and maybe a couple of hits will get myself involved physically,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been doing that in the last few games and it helps me. Tonight I got a goal and I’ll just keep working hard and what I’ve been doing and I’ll be fine.”

Perreault was asked a couple of times about scoring his first as a Jet, but focused first on the big picture after Tuesday’s win, pointing to the team’s continued commitment to defence even with all the line juggling Maurice did before the game.

“It shows how committed we are to our system,” he said. “We can move guys around and it doesn’t really change much. We still do the same thing: play strong defensively… they had, what, 10 shots (actually, nine) after the second period. It doesn’t matter.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait

 

 

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