On a day when the Winnipeg Jets honoured their past with a bronze statue, a key part of their future shone like a diamond.
Cole Perfetti, the 20-year-old, first-round draft pick from two years ago, scored both goals as the Jets dropped a 3-2, shootout decision to the Edmonton Oilers.
Hours earlier. the Jets unveiled a statue of franchise great Dale Hawerchuk in True North Square, honouring the man who made No. 10 famous in Winnipeg and put Jets 1.0 on the map back in 1981.
On hand for the unveiling and for the game was Hawerchuk’s wife, Crystal, who two years ago announced the selection of Perfetti, 10th overall, in the NHL’s virtual 2020 draft.
“It was a big deal tonight, you saw the crowd,” Perfetti said. “That shows you how much he meant to the city, to the team. Having a little bit of a connection there, Ms. Hawerchuk doing the selection a couple years ago, is pretty cool. A great night to honour him. It was special all around.”
Perhaps a close loss to their 1980s nemesis was fitting, too.
On a night that featured special teams – the Jets had six power plays, Edmonton five – Perfetti showed the special talent that’s seen him quickly go from blue-chip prospect to somebody expected to play a significant role this season.
Left alone in front and set up by linemate Pierre-Luc Dubois, he gave his team a 2-1 lead 8:50 into the third period.
The Jets got into penalty trouble, though, playing two men short and paying the price, Jason Demers finishing a pretty passing play and beating Connor Hellebuyck.
Perfetti’s nicest play on the night, a one-timer pass setting up Dubois for an easy third-period goal, was negated when the Oilers challenged, successfully, that it was offside.
“Great hockey sense. He’s a real smart player and can make plays and can go to the right spots,” linemate Blake Wheeler said of Perfetti. “He thinks the game at an NHL level. He’s going to be a guy that’s going to be a lot of fun to watch here for a long time.”
In overtime, Perfetti had a chance at the hat trick but was stopped by Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner.
Rookie Brad Lambert also had a dazzling rush in overtime, but couldn’t beat Skinner.
In the shootout, Perfetti was stopped again, Lambert hit the goal post and Dubois missed the net.
Devin Shore scored for Edmonton.
Hellebuyck went the distance for the Jets, allowing two goals on 27 shots. The Jets put 35 on the Oilers’ net.
There were some fireworks in the third period, too, as Wheeler dropped his gloves and went after Luke Esposito after Esposito belted him into the Jets goal.
Defenceman Nate Schmidt got caught in the pileup and was hurt on the play.
“I didn’t really love the play,” Wheeler said. “Going into our goalie and Schmidty there, too. I got a little fired up. I felt I went into Bucky and Schmidty. It was not a spot that needed that type of play.”
A Ville Heinola giveaway led to the first goal by the Oilers’ Tyler Benson late in the first.
Less than two minutes later, Perfetti got that one back on a two-man Jets advantage, Heinola drawing an assist.
The Jets out-shot Edmonton, 15-4, in that opening 20 minutes, thanks in part to three power plays.
Heinola took a minor as the clock wound down, concluding an eventful period for the young defenceman.
Tempers flared midway through the second when Benson boarded Jets forward Mason Appleton, head-first, into the side boards.
Adam Lowry came to his teammates’ defence, earning a roughing minor to even things out.
Shots favoured the Jets, 23-12, through two, as they enjoyed their fifth power play of the night going into the third.
Once again, Heinola was on the point, getting a chance to show his puck-moving ability.
“We wanted to put those guys in the best situations possible, so they could show us their talent, show us what they do best, and that’s what we keep telling them,” associate coach Scott Arniel, who handles the defence, said going into the game. “You give them the opportunities and it’s their job to go and work for it.”
The Jets went 2-for-6 with the extra man, the Oilers 1-for-5.
Next up, two preseason games against Calgary, here next Wednesday, in Calgary next Friday, to conclude the exhibition.
pfriesen@postmedia.com
Twitter: @friesensunmedia
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