Next day takeaways: 3 thoughts as Winnipeg Jets' Cole Perfetti nets ...

The Winnipeg Jets lost to this same Utah Hockey Club, in what was an “embarrassing” performance, just five days ago. You wouldn’t know it given how the Jets played on Friday night, cruising to a 5-2 win with a few standout performances emerging throughout the game.

Cole “Prick-fetti” nets his first career hat trick

Friday morning, Cole Perfetti said he was focusing on “Kinda being a little prick to play against,” and it’s safe to say that he was successful in that last night, netting his first career hat-trick. 

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

He also led the Winnipeg Jets in hits (3), shot attempts (8), and shots (4), and at one point, got under the skin of Utah HC forward Logan Cooley after the whistle. He contributed positively to a handful of puck battles along the wall throughout the game and played a huge role in the Jets’ success on this night.

Cole Perfetti said in the post-game that he hadn’t been getting the best of bounces heading into tonight’s game, and as he focused on the smaller details in his game, also known as playing like a “prick”, the results followed. 

“I was just trying to focus on the input on the small things and doing every little detail as best as I can,” Perfetti said. “Then, you know the play’s going to develop for you kind of thing and Fly just made some great plays. Just trying to go to the softer areas of the ice and find the open spots. You know, when it’s your night, bounces go your way and I haven’t had those bounces lately, but just trying to be consistent with my game and you get rewarded eventually.” 

Perfetti knows that further developing his two-way game will lead to greater offensive results, and this game was a perfect example. He got the details right, contributed to the game in other ways than just scoring, and was rewarded with some good bounces. 

He netted his 8th, 9th, and 10th goals of the season in the hat trick, snapping a drought of 15 games without scoring. 

Nikolaj Ehlers plays a stellar “flu game”

Nikolaj Ehlers was a game-time decision with an illness, and said to reporters after the game: “You don’t want to know how I woke up this morning.”

When asked if this was his version of Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game”, he said: “That’s up to you guys. I don’t know. I mean I did feel good out there. I’ve played feeling much worse than that.”

Ehlers had an incredible goal on a breakaway to give the Jets an insurance marker in the third period, putting them up 4-2 at the time.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

He also co-led the team in shots (4) and netted two assists. His second assist of the game, on Cole Perfetti’s empty-net goal, was his 500th career point. He became the sixth player in franchise history to hit the 500-point milestone, and he did it in front of the fans at Canada Life Centre. 

“It’s special,” Ehlers said of reaching the milestone. “But I think what’s the most special is doing it here at home. Getting closer, it wasn’t in my head much. But I was hoping that I could do it at home in front of our fans that I think they’re feeling pretty good tonight. So very, very special.”

So if Cole Perfetti nets his first career hat trick, and Ehlers nets 500 points, who gets to keep that puck? 

“Oh, I’m taking that one. I’m older.” Ehlers said while smiling. 

No matter his linemates, Ehlers has been one of Winnipeg’s most effective skaters over the past two weeks. His play is trending up, and it’s coming at a good time with Adam Lowry out of the lineup.

Jets dodge three different injuries

With Adam Lowry already week-to-week with an injury, the Jets had three different injury scares tonight and dodged a bullet on all three. 

Late in the first period, Mark Scheifele blocked a shot with his hand and was in visible pain before heading down the tunnel. He later returned before the period had ended.  (hand)

In the middle of the second period, Dylan Samberg also blocked a shot with his hand and headed to the bench in pain. He was out there only a few shifts later.  

Later in the middle frame, Mason Appleton, who just returned from a different injury, took a Josh Morrissey point shot off of his leg and hobbled his way down the bench before slowly making his way down the tunnel. He also returned to the game just minutes later. 

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

“Yeah, that’s part of winning hockey games,” Arniel said. “That’s the stuff you have to do. You could hear our bench up chirping. You don’t want to see guys leave the bench, but at the end of the day, teams that do that hard stuff, those are the ones that help you to win hockey games.”

Mikko Rantanen

Taking a step away from the Jets, Mikko Rantanen, who is currently sixth in NHL scoring with 64 points, was traded out of the Central Division on Friday night. He was moved from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in a massive, three-team blockbuster deal, sending Martin Necas back to Colorado and Taylor Hall from Chicago to Carolina. 

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

You rarely see trades of this magnitude happen in-season in the NHL, and this was about as big as it gets. Arniel said after the game that the Jets heard about the trade at intermission, and about Rantanen, said “He’s going to the East, which is always nice,”.

The Jets take on the Rantanen-led Hurricanes in just 10 days inside Canada Life Centre, on Tuesday, February 4, which should make for an incredible game.

Up next:

As for the shorter-term games, the Jets will take on the Calgary Flames on Sunday at 5:00 PM CT inside Canada Life Centre, before heading out on a three-game east-coast road trip. Stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for the latest Jets and Moose news during a very busy time in the NHL.