Perfetti Pots a Hattie as the Jets whip Utah 5-2

HELLEBUYCK EHLERS SUPERB AS JETS WIN SECOND STRAIGHT

In recent weeks, the Winnipeg Jets have been criticized (mildly, by a few “experts”) for not having enough secondary scoring. Meanwhile, the big line – Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi – has been sensational, notching 30, 26 and 24 points respectively in the team’s last 20 games.

Friday night, almost magically, the secondary scoring appeared as the Jets whipped the visiting Utah Hockey Club 5-2.

In fact, second-line winger Cole Perfetti lit up Canada Life Centre with the first hat-trick of his career as the Jets scored three goals in the third period to improve to 33-14-3 and remain first in the West and second overall in the NHL.

“I’m just trying to focus on the input, on the small things, on doing every little detail as best as I can,” Perfetti told reporters after the game. “I know the play will develop. Nik Ehlers and Vlad Nemestnikov made some great plays, so I just went to the soft areas of the ice to find the open spots. And when it's your night, things kind of just bounce your way. I haven't had those bounces lately, but I’m just trying to be consistent with my game. I know I’ll get rewarded eventually.”

With the win, the Jets improved to 19-5-3 at Canada Life Centre and have earned points in 13 of the last 15 home games. The Jets also improved to 19-3-2 and remain the only team in the league to be undefeated after leading at the end of the first and second periods.

However, this night was about Perfetti. Jets head coach Scott Arniel was thrilled for his young forward: “When guys buy in to what you're preaching, and with Cole recognizing that he shouldn’t get farther away from the net, but stay close -- ‘Get inside, win your battles,’ making sure he's good defensively -- when you build that stuff throughout your team, that's how you have a winning hockey club."

After a back-and-forth first period, Perfetti opened the scoring at 17:52 of Period 1, after taking a perfect pass from Gabriel Vilardi just to the left of Utah netminder Connor Ingram. Perfetti made no mistake as he caught the corner of the gaping cage to score his eighth of the season and first in 15 games. Ehlers and Vilardi drew the assists.

In the second period, Utah’s Nick Schmaltz tipped home a Michael Kesselring shot to tie the game at 1:13, but Winnipeg’s David Gustafsson got himself a little puck luck. Dylan DeMelo dumped a shot into the Utah zone that Ingram was going to play behind the net, but the puck took a crazy bounce off the end boards, bounced in front and Gustafsson pumped it into the open net.

The Jets led 2-1 after two periods and had outshot Utah 21-14, but they were still in a tight one. It got even tighter at 1:19 of the Barrett Hayton ripped a nice wrister into the corner past Hellebuyck to tie the game at two.

Ehlers put the game away at 12:16 of the third when he stole the puck from Kesselring at the Jets blueline, went in alone on Ingram and made a beautiful deke and tucked the puck into the corner. Ehlers 15th of the year, unassisted, made it 4-2 and all that was left was to get Perfetti the hat.

Of course, it was Ehlers who made a brilliant play. With the net empty, the Dashing dame outraced to Utah players to a loose puck then feathered a perfect pass to Perfetti who softly directed it toward the open cage. It was 5-2 Winnipeg, and the hats came flying onto the ice.

After starting the week with a 3-1 loss at home to Calgary and then taking a 5-2 drubbing in Utah on Monday night, it was a big win for the Jets who have now won two in a row and are 6-2-1 in their last nine.

Although Perfetti was the first star, Ehlers had a brilliant game. He had a goal and two assists and was a plus-three. He also had four shots and two hits in just 14:56 minutes of ice time. Linemate Namestnikov had an assist and was also plus-three.

The Jets play again on Sunday night when they look for revenge against the Calgary Flames at Canada Life Centre. Game time is 6 p.m.