Jets, Cole Perfetti defy odds amid missing Connor Hellebuyck vs. Canucks
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Jets, Cole Perfetti defy odds amid missing Connor Hellebuyck vs. Canucks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Winnipeg Jets are resuming their NHL campaign in good terms. They still sit sixth in the Central Division and the chances of making the postseason look bleak. However, this was not an excuse for their squad to go all out against the Vancouver Canucks. Coach Scott Arniel is missing Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morissey but it was a handful of players led by Cole Perfetti who stepped up. It led to an insane 3-2 overtime thriller.
Winnipeg finds ways to win without stars
This game was so tight in all aspects but the Jets managed to hold on despite not having key players. Both squads had two goals each heading into the third period. Coach Arniel's defensive schematics were impenetrable and prevented the Canucks from scoring. This carried over from the last period to overtime.
Then, the Jets just needed 1:37 minutes in overtime because Perfetti found a rebound off Nikita Tolopilo to win the game. Coach Arniel outlined what decision led to them winning without Hellebuyck and Morissey.
It was to reunite Gabriel Vilardi, Kyle Connor, and Mark Scheifele to have a strong line on offense, via Kevin Woodley of NHL.com.
"I reunited them and I knew that coming down the stretch here we’re going to need their offense. They were real good right from the get-go with Connor and Scheifele with that chemistry that they have. But the thing I liked about ‘KC’ is that he’s one of our best back trackers. He’s one of the guys that comes back on that line and helps to defend. He’s a real solid two-way player for us," the Jets head coach added.
In the coming days, the Jets are going to get Hellebuyck back which means they can focus a lot of their schemes in coming up with a sustainable offense.