Before you fault Winnipeg Jets winger Cole Perfetti for the word he used during a live interview, consider the circumstances leading up to an April Fool’s game.
Perfetti, a 22-year-old forward currently in his third season in the NHL, returned to play for the Jets on Monday, April 1, after missing the last two games and being left out of six of the last nine.
His excitement was understandable, especially considering he scored the opening and game-winning goals in Monday’s 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Kings, making everything perfectly reasonable.
During an intermission on the game played on April 1, TSN’s on-ice reporter asked Perfetti about his contributions to the Jets’ fourth line of forwards. His response, though it accidentally included a swear word, provoked a priceless reaction (h/t @lanceairguitar for sharing the clip).
“I touched on it a little earlier, just simplify,” Perfetti told TSN during the intermission interview. “Playing with like, skilled guys up in the lineup… our team is (expletive) full–oooff, my bad! Full of skilled guys.”
Perfetti’s mistake is forgivable because he promptly recognized his error and apologized for his choice of words.
Cole Perfetti Was Buried in the Jets Depth Chart But Could Break Out Soon
On Monday, Perfetti replaced Tyler Toffoli as the veteran was out with an illness. This put Perfetti in an advantageous position on the Jets’ second line of attack instead of the fourth.
Perfetti capitalized on the situation by scoring two goals and assisting on another in Winnipeg’s victory over Los Angeles.
This season has been challenging for Perfetti, who has appeared in 67 games but has been excluded from the lineup recently as the Jets strive for a strong finish to the regular season, aiming for the highest possible seeding going into the playoffs.
“I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy (getting scratched). It has been tough the last little bit,” Perfetti told reporters in his postgame press conference on April 1. “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.”
After Monday’s win, the Jets are 45-24-6 with 96 points, securing 3rd place in the NHL Central Division, 6 points ahead of divisional rival the Nashville Predators (90 points with a game in hand over the Jets).
“[Perfetti] has been working really hard,” Jets head coach Rick Bowness told reporters after the game. “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.”
Winnipeg is a Lock for the Stanley Cup Playoffs In Up-And-Down Year
The Jets season has been full of ups and downs. With just seven games remaining, MoneyPuck considers Winnipeg a lock to make the playoffs giving the team 100% odds of clinching a postseason berth.
However, after an amazing 8-0-0 stretch from December 30 to January 11, the Jets finally won against the Kings, ending a seven-game losing streak which only included one overtime loss on March 26 against the Edmonton Oilers.
It was a tough game for the Jets on Monday, but they managed to score the game-winning goal with less than seven minutes left in regulation. Then, Perfetti scored and gave Winnipeg their 45th win of the season.
“We really needed this win, so I’m very happy about that,” coach Bowness said after the game.
