On a night where the Winnipeg Jets snapped out of a six-game losing streak, one of their young forwards busted out of a miserable slump at the same time.
Cole Perfetti scored two goals, including the game-winner with 6:55 left in the third period, and added an assist as the Jets picked up a 4-3 win over Los Angeles Monday night at Canada Life Centre.
Perfetti had just one goal over his previous 26 games and only dressed because Tyler Toffoli was feeling under the weather and was out with an illness.
“It was huge for my confidence,” Perfetti said. “Just getting put in that chance, and then obviously going to the net and just banging one early in – that felt great.”
Perfetti was playing on their second line with Kyle Connor and Sean Monahan. They were on the ice for all four Jets’ goals to help end the skid. Connor also had a three-point night, recording three assists in the win.
“We created lots as a line, scored lots as a line,” said Perfetti. “So, I think it just felt really good. Just really happy that I could contribute and help get back into that. I missed that for a little bit.”
Jets head coach Rick Bowness switched up his top two forward lines, moving Nikolaj Ehlers to the top line, while sliding Connor down. And he also flip-flopped his defensive pairings.
“Obviously the Monahan line had a big night for us,” said Bowness. “That made the difference in the game. The D-pairings, yeah it worked out OK.”
It was the Jets first win since March 17 as they battled back from a 3-2 deficit.
“Obviously it’s great to get off the losing streak,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. “We played hard. Went through a little bit of adversity going down in the game and found a way to come back multiple times, I guess. And didn’t lose our confidence.”
After a great start to the season, Perfetti has had a miserable 2024 calendar year, and has ended up being a healthy scratch several times in the month of March.
“I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy,” he said. “Like, it’s been tough the last little bit. But just trying to come to work every day with a positive mindset, be a good teammate, and if an opportunity presents itself, just be ready.”
“He’s been working really hard,” said Bowness. “The coaches have been spending a lot of time with him. I did tell him, when you get back in we’re gonna give you more time with the top-6 cause that’s more his game. So he took full advantage of it.”
In a back-and-forth affair, the Jets battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to find a way to win.
Monahan and Morrissey also scored for the Jets.
Viktor Arvidsson, Kevin Fiala, and Anze Kopitar replied for L.A. in the losing cause.
Laurent Brossoit made 25 saves in net for Winnipeg to pick up his 13th win of the season.
Dylan DeMelo had one assist to set a new career-best with 28 points. Nino Niederreiter left the game in the third period and according to Bowness required stitches on his leg.
The win was also Winnipeg’s 45th of the season, the fourth time they’ve hit that mark since returning to the city in 2011-12.
With the win, the Jets moved four points back of the Avalanche for second place in the Central Division.
After more than 1,400 career NHL games, linesman Ryan Galloway of Winnipeg worked his final game. The Jets honoured Galloway during a TV timeout and players on both teams shook his hand following the final buzzer.
The Jets are next in action on Thursday night, when they conclude their five-game homestand against the Calgary Flames. The pregame show will begin on 680 CJOB at 5 p.m. with the puck dropping shortly after 7 p.m.
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