Jets Snap Losing Streak with 4-3 victory over Kings.
Cole Perfetti scored twice in his return to the lineup, as Winnipeg snapped its six-game winless streak with a 4-3 home victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
Not only did the Jets snap their losing streak, they also snapped their four-game sellout streak, as just 13,334 fans showed up to the late-night affair at Canada Life Centre.
Who knew that would be the missing ingredient.
With Tyler Toffoli out of the lineup as a game-time decision due to illness, Perfetti drew back into the lineup after a considerable streak in the press box.
And he delivered mightily.
“It was huge for my confidence," Perfetti said post-game. "Just getting put in there for that chance. And then obviously, going to the net and banging one in early. That felt great.
"I was just really happy that I could contribute and help get back into that. I missed that for a little bit. It just feels really good to get back and help this team win.”
The game also marked Gabe Vilardi's first test at home against his former teammates since being injured two shifts into the October affair against the Kings.
Making his return to the lineup on Saturday, Vilardi skated in 18 minutes on Monday, producing four shots on net. Also of note was that of Alex Iafallo, who spent six years with the Kings' organization.
Laurent Brossoit started his first game since a loss to New Jersey in Newark nearly two years ago.
Perfetti gave Winnipeg an early lead, jamming home his 16th of the season, and just his second since January 10th. And no one needed a goal more than he, after having served as a healthy scratch more often than not since the March trade deadline.
But just 1:17 after Perfetti's game-opening strike, the Kings got one back.
One shift after being manhandled by Brenden Dillon in the offensive zone, Viktor Arvidsson absolutely hammered home a slap shot on a rush up ice. His clapper went bar-down, glove-side past Brossoit, knotting the game back up at ones with 7:30 to play in the frame.
After the teams battled to a 1-1 draw through 20 minutes, the middle stanza offered fans four total goals - two apiece.
Kevin Fiala gave Los Angeles its first lead of the game, on a spinning tally just six minutes into the period, before Sean Monahan responded for Winnipeg, putting the final touch on a strong Josh Morrissey through-pass.
But just two minutes after Monahan's game-tying goal, Kings captain Anze Kopitar walked right down Main Street and ripped home a perfect shot, high, glove-side.
Not willing to go down without a fight, the Jets got one back once again. After picking up the primary assist on the Monahan's 11th with Winnipeg, Morrissey pounded home his own. Perfetti and Kyle Connor picked up assists on Morrissey's ninth of the year, adding to their strong offensive nights.
Through 40 minutes of play, Winnipeg remained up 23-17 on the shot chart, while the two teams were deadlocked at threes.
The Jets were handed the first power play of the game with 8:57 left to play, as Viktor Arvidsson was assessed a holding the stick minor late in the third.
But Winnipeg's power play - which has performed rather lackadaisically as of late - came through, albeit one second after the penalty actually expired.
Once again it was Perfetti. Picking up a drop pass from Neal Pionk, Perfetti ripped his second of the game - and 17th of the season - past Talbot with 6:55 to play, putting Winnipeg ahead for the second time in the game.
"He's been working really hard," Rick Bowness said of Perfetti. "The coaches have been spending a lot of time with him. I did tell him, 'Listen, when you get back in, we're going to give you more time with the top six.' That's more his game, so he took full advantage of it. Give him credit for that. Tyler goes down and he's ready to go. We put him in there and he did a great job tonight."
The goal would go on to be the winner, as Los Angeles' empty-net attack resulted in nothing, sending Winnipeg back to the win column for the first time in a long time.
Brossoit finished the night with 25 stops on the 28 Kings shots he faced. Talbot turned aside 28 of the 32 Jets pucks fired his way.
Winnipeg concludes its season-high five-game homestand with a Thursday night affair against the visiting Calgary Flames. That game can be viewed live on TSN at 7:00 PM central time.