ANAHEIM – Cole Perfetti makes his return to the Winnipeg Jets line-up tonight, a moment he's been waiting for ever since sustaining his injury in the preseason finale against Calgary.
“It’s been a bit of a grind. Obviously, with injuries, you never want them to happen, especially at the start of the year," said Perfetti. "It’s been tough to miss the first little bit here. I’m just super excited to be back with the guys and finally be able to play a game. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Ironically, the 23-year-old's 2025-26 season debut will come in the same building he made his National Hockey League debut in back in October of 2021 - Honda Center in Anaheim. Perfetti has certainly grown as a player since then, including being a key part of Winnipeg's offensive attack.
"He’s a player that’s been here and adds another offensive element for us - both on the power play and five-on-five," said head coach Scott Arniel. "It’s good to have him back."
Perfetti scored 18 goals last season and had a career-high 50 points. He'll slot in with a familiar face in Vladislav Namestnikov and Jonathan Toews, who he had a number of reps with in the preseason.
"The familiarity is there and we’re comfortable with one another," said Perfetti. "They’re two veteran guys that are going to be able to help me out when needed tonight. I’m really looking forward to play with those guys. I love playing with Vladdy and (Toews) has been playing great. So I’m looking forward to it.”
Heading into Sunday’s third stop on the road trip, the Jets might feel they have a slight advantage over the Anaheim Ducks.
After all, the Ducks played in Las Vegas on Saturday night, and will be playing the second game of a back-to-back when they host the Jets.
Even with that in mind, Haydn Fleury isn’t so sure it’s much of an advantage.
“They’re a young team. I don’t know if back-to-backs even faze some of those guys yet,” grinned the 29-year-old Fleury. “Just be ready to play and be ready for a full 60. Be the suffocating team we can. Bring some energy.”
Regardless of the circumstance the Ducks are in, the focus for the Jets remains on themselves. They know they’ve dropped the first two games of the road trip in Los Angeles and San Jose, the first time this season they’ve lost consecutive games.
The Jets have shown long stretches of games that they’re the type of - to borrow a word from Fleury - suffocating team that has won consecutive William Jennings trophies in the last two seasons.
They’re outscoring their opposition 14-6 in the first period, with those six goals being the fewest allowed in the National Hockey League. But, while they’ve outscored their opponents 15-13 in the second, Winnipeg is being outshot 167-126.
Fourteen games into the season, the Jets want to see a lot of the positive things they’re doing in the first period translate into the second and third.
“You’re going to make mistakes over the course of a game, some plays that you’re not going to be able to fully execute on,” said Luke Schenn. “Just continue to stick with it, play the right way, and it’s going to be a tough challenge (Sunday). We have to be ready to go.”
