Cole Perfetti is wasting no time making his mark this season, and on Tuesday night he was the driving force in another Winnipeg Jets statement win.
The Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 at Canada Life Centre, a result that moved Winnipeg back into first place in the Central Division at 4-1-1. It was the kind of division matchup that felt exactly like one: physical, tense, and decided by which team could land the bigger punches when the game opened up.
Perfetti scored twice, continuing an early-season tear that has him up to five goals in six games. That’s a sharp contrast from last season, when it took him 40 games to reach that same mark on January 31.
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor also scored for Winnipeg, and both players chipped in an assist as well. Cole Koepke added the final goal, finishing off a two-on-one rush for his first of the season.
Minnesota kept hanging around, despite arriving short-handed because of injuries. Winnipeg grabbed leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but the Wild answered each time. Kirill Kaprizov matched Perfetti with two goals of his own, keeping the visitors in the fight until the Jets’ offense finally stretched the margin.
Neal Pionk helped steady things from the blue line, picking up two assists while filling the No. 1 defenseman role with Josh Morrissey out because of a hand injury.
Stuart Skinner was strong in goal for Winnipeg, stopping 19 of 21 shots. At the other end, Winnipegger Calvin Pickard allowed five goals on 25 shots in his return to his home city.
The Jets now head to Chicago for a Thursday night game before returning home Saturday afternoon for a 2:30 PM matinee against Stanley Cup champion Nikolaj Ehlers.
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Jets Prospect Shuffle Just Clarified The Organizations Depth Picture
The Jets made a small but telling depth move this week, reassigning goaltender Isaac Poulter, forward Mikey Milne and defenceman Evan Nause from the Manitoba Moose to Bloomington, their ECHL affiliate. For an organization that likes to keep its pipeline moving, it is another reminder of how closely the AHL and ECHL rungs are tied together, with prospects shifting where the ice time is available and where the development path makes the most sense.
Poulter, Milne and Nause have each been part of the system long enough to be part of the wider conversation about Manitobas next wave, and this kind of shuffle helps clarify where the Jets see the immediate fit. It does not answer every question about who is closest to helping in Winnipeg, but it does give a cleaner read on the clubs current depth chart and the roles these young players are being asked to fill right now. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Face A New Test After First Regulation Loss
The first regulation loss of the season has changed the tone around Winnipeg a bit, but the Jets do not have long to dwell on it with Minnesota up next. Winnipeg is still trying to sort out its lineup picture as defenceman Josh Morrissey remains day-to-day, while veteran forward Nino Niederreiter is back in the mix after his return triggered some movement through the forward groups.
Minnesota arrives with its own mix of momentum and concern after a win over Vegas, even as Nico Sturm was lost to a head injury. Calvin Pickard is expected to get the start in goal against Winnipeg, which adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like an early test of how the Jets respond after finally being pushed off their perfect run. [Read more 🡒]