Cole Perfetti was anxious for one more shot on the NHL playoffs.
The younger Winnipeg Jets ahead solely performed in one of many membership’s 5 first-round video games final 12 months. Now, Perfetti — coming off his finest season as a professional — is trying ahead to going through the St. Louis Blues within the first spherical of this 12 months’s NHL post-season.
One of the best-of-seven collection will start right here Saturday.
“I can’t wait to get Recreation 1 going,” Perfetti mentioned after Winnipeg’s 2-1 extra time win over the Anaheim Geese on Wednesday night time earlier than the membership’s sixteenth sellout of the season at Canada Life Centre. “There’s numerous anticipation.
“Within the second half of the 12 months, it began to really feel somewhat extra actual, like we’re going to be there, we’re going to be a prime seed so we’ve been progressing all year long. I solely obtained one style of it final 12 months … I’m excited for this 12 months.”
The Jets wished to make use of Wednesday’s contest to organize for the playoffs.
“We created lots (offensively), I assumed,” Perfetti mentioned. “We wished to make use of it as a great tune-up for Recreation 1 and I assumed we performed fairly good.
“Their goalie (Ville Husso) performed fairly effectively. We had numerous nice possibilities and didn’t surrender an excessive amount of and I assumed that was a fairly good efficiency for us.”
Perfetti assisted on Neal Pionk’s second-period aim to offer him 50 factors on the season for the primary time.
Winnipeg beat the Blues 3-1 to snap a 12-game profitable streak lately.
“Clearly, they’ve been taking part in good hockey as of late, for the reason that break,” Perfetti mentioned. “They’re a great group.
“We noticed them 4 or 5 video games in the past so we all know we will beat them. We’re conversant in them, we all know their recreation. They’re taking part in effectively and it’s going to be a enjoyable collection.”
Pionk agreed.
“Yeah, can’t wait. Finest time of 12 months,” he mentioned. “Tonight was nearly preserving good habits and ensuring we do the fitting issues.
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“Now we play for actual. Will probably be a quick, bodily collection. They’ve had a heck of a run after the break there, one of many hottest groups within the league. We’ve obtained to be able to go.”
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Husso made 42 saves — lots of them good — and was impressed by the Jets as they head into the playoffs.
“They play a strong recreation just about all 60 minutes,” he mentioned. “Their expertise, their ability, and their again finish is fairly good.
“It was enjoyable to comply with (Jets goalie Connor) Hellebuyck, too. He makes the sport look really easy there. They’ve a great probability, for certain.”
Hellebuyck gained the William M. Jennings Trophy for the second 12 months. It’s introduced yearly to the goaltender(s) who play a minimal of 25 video games for the group that’s allowed the fewest regular-season objectives.
Winnipeg allowed simply 191 objectives this season.
“Profitable it two years in a row is fairly spectacular, I feel,” Perfetti mentioned. “Some nights, it was nice group defence, some nights it was Helle (Hellebuyck) or Comms (Eric Comrie) standing on their heads.
“And that’s what you want if you wish to achieve success on this league and win that trophy.”
Jets coach Scott Arniel was happy with each the Jennings Trophy and that Winnipeg amassed a club-record 116 factors this season.
“Once more, superb accomplishment for these guys to place a season collectively like that,” he mentioned. “I can’t credit score the gamers sufficient for what they’ve performed.
“Simply stayed centered, all 82 video games. To get it right here on the finish was particular, in entrance of all our followers.”
The gamers talked in regards to the Jennings from the beginning, Arniel mentioned.
“We did numerous team-building stuff initially of the 12 months,” he mentioned. “It was superb that each group got here again (and mentioned) a part of our id, at first, was going to be how we defended like we did final 12 months.
“To be in hockey video games, we had sufficient ability to attain objectives however everyone is aware of that with regards to Recreation 83 and on, the groups that defend the most effective are those that normally find yourself on the finish of the day holding that trophy.
“It’s everyone believing in a sure solution to play and that provides you the prospect to win hockey video games. You again it up with an excellent goaltender. Goaltenders. That makes it rather more troublesome to play towards us.”
Mark Scheifele scored the game-winner in extra time.
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