Perfetti’s progress

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This article was published 19/12/2023 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the grand scheme of things, a six-game stretch without a point falls into the category of an expected bump in the road.

To call it a slump feels like an exaggeration. Considering Cole Perfetti had collected at least a point in 13 of his previous 15 games, that’s exactly what it was.

It wasn’t a byproduct of poor play or of a young player getting complacent, either. This is merely part of the development process for someone who has quickly grown into an important contributor for the Winnipeg Jets.

Perfetti’s emphatic celebration after evening the score at 12:24 of the third period Monday against the Montreal Canadiens made it clear the drought was weighing on him to a degree.

By crashing the blue paint and burying a rebound after Vladislav Namestnikov took the initial shot, Perfetti became the fourth member of the Jets to hit double digits in goals, joining Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers.

“Obviously, going to the net (Monday) night and getting a greasy one. You just have to keep working at your game, keep growing,” said Scheifele. “It’s not always going to go for you and there are going to be times where things are going good and things are going bad. It’s about how you deal with that when the time comes.”

Perfetti’s teammates are seeing the growth in real time and are impressed.

“Cole thinks the game really well,” said defenceman Nate Schmidt. “He’s a cerebral player. The guy knows where to be. He’s getting so much more confident — maybe not confident but his calmness with the puck is really quite impressive.

“A young player, when he gets in the league, the tendency is maybe to overhandle it and move it in a situation, but I find that he’s finding his way into those soft areas, giving himself a little more space and then making the next play. That’s next level stuff and that’s the next step for him.”

Perfetti is up to 20 points in 30 games and currently sits fifth on the Jets in scoring, an impressive feat when you consider he’s about to play his 100th NHL game on Wednesday.

The Jets host the Detroit Red Wings at 6:30 pm CT as they continue a four-game homestand.

MORRISSEY GOOD TO GO: The swelling to Josh Morrissey’s left cheek was significant after taking a puck to the face from Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. but the star defenceman will be in the lineup against Detroit, head coach Rick Bowness said Tuesday.

Morrissey, who recorded his 22nd assist and 27th point on the goal from Gabriel Vilardi that got the Jets on the board, still managed 22:29 of ice time, despite heading to the room to receive four stitches to get the wound under control.

“I actually thought he was going to be back quicker,” said Scheifele, who was only half-joking. “The way that he is, I thought they would throw a few steri-strips (sterilizing strips) on it and off he would go. He’s an absolute warrior and you could tell that he didn’t want to leave the game. He’s such a big part of our team and he’s our backbone back there on the D corps and does so many good things.”

BROSSOIT GETS THE START: Jets goalie Laurent Brossoit is ready to make his eighth start in 31 games on Wednesday, leaving Connor Hellebuyck to play the final game before the break against the Boston Bruins on Friday.

Brossoit is coming off consecutive strong outings and will be looking to build on that.

“We want him to play at least once a week when we can. So, it’s the right game,” said Bowness. “He’s going to keep playing. He’s playing really well. We’ve got to keep him in the net.”

Coming out of the break, the Jets play three games in five days, so expect Brossoit to be back between the pipes again on Dec. 31 against the Minnesota Wild.

KUPARI PROGRESSING: Jets forward Rasmus Kupari was on the ice in a yellow, non-contact jersey Tuesday, marking the first time he’s been out with his teammates in a larger group since suffering a shoulder injury against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 14.

Bowness said Kupari wouldn’t be an option before the holiday break arrives, but didn’t rule out a potential return before the calendar flips to 2024.

As for defenceman Ville Heinola, he’s also been skating, but his timeline to return to game action remains unclear.

Since Heinola is exempt from waivers, the most likely path will include some time with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League, though Bowness wasn’t ready to commit to that just yet.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” said Bowness. “That’s an option.”

Bowness also confirmed what most people had anticipated — that Heinola did more than just earn a spot on the opening-day roster, had he not suffered the fractured ankle in the final exhibition game against the Ottawa Senators.

“He would have been in our opening lineup,” said Bowness. “I don’t think he’s ever faced an injury like this before. So, we’ll see… no one knows how he’s going to respond.

“He’s obviously disappointed. But he’s dealing with it and I think now he’s getting really anxious to play, that he’s that close.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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