Cole Perfetti: "It Has Been Tough the Last Little Bit"

At one point on Monday, things were looking a little glum for the Winnipeg Jets. 

That was around the time of morning skate, where it was announced that big deadline day acquisition Tyler Toffoli was under the weather and his status for Monday evening's contest with the Los Angeles Kings was in question.

Should he miss the game, it would mean Cole Perfetti draws in.

Even just hearing that sentence a few months ago would leave most Jets fans in disbelief.

Tyler Toffoli is a Winnipeg Jet?

Cole Perfetti isn't part of the every day lineup?

Lots can change in a few months. 

Yes, thanks in large part to Perfetti's decline in production over the second half of the season, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did go out and get himself a high-powered, veteran, offensive weapon.

Toffoli has essentially replaced Perfetti in the lineup, per se. Originally bumping the youngster down to a fourth-line role, Perfetti has ultimately found himself in the press box for the better part of the month of March.

“I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy," Perfetti reflected post-game. "It has been tough the last little bit. I just tried to come to work every day with a positive mindset and be a good teammate. If an opportunity presented itself, I just wanted to be ready. 

"An opportunity came tonight, and I just tried whatever I could to seize the moment. The last 25 games has been a rollercoaster. But just being ready at all times and staying engaged and focused in practices and just trying to be the best I can be. Tonight felt really good.”

Oddly enough, it was Toffoli who once again impacted Perfetti's day - but this time, positively.

“Going home from morning skate I had a pretty good idea," he said of finding out he would be back in the lineup. "Toff was sick and under the weather. I didn’t know one hundred percent, but prepared as if I was (playing) and came to the rink and when I got here, obviously he wasn’t here, he was sick. I just went about it as if it was a normal game day. Luckily enough I was in, so it was good.”

Perfetti scored two goals - including the third period game-winner - while adding an assist on Josh Morrissey's ninth of the season, making an instant impact on a game he wasn't expecting to even be in when he woke up Monday morning.

“It was a great dish," the team's star defenceman said of Perfetti's setup pass. "He played a great game. Nice to see him using his tools out there and playing with confidence. Great look, and a huge game for us."

And it wasn't just teammates singing his praises either, as head coach Rick Bowness also indicated his approval of Perfetti's play, but more so, his positive work ethic during his time in the press box.

"He's been working really hard," Bowness said. "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."

Whether or not he stays in the lineup come Thursday evening when Toffoli is likely recovered will come down to another decision by Bowness. 

Or, it could be influenced by a possible injury to fellow forward Nino Niederreiter. The veteran winger left Monday's game with a leg laceration and did not return. According to Bowness, his status remains up in the air for Thursday's test against Calgary.

"He required some stitches in his leg," Bowness said. "We'll know more after tomorrow and Wednesday. We'll see."