‘Yotes Notes: Perlini sets record, OEL heads to All-Star game
Jan 26, 2018, 7:30 AM
Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini (11) shoots over Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) to score a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blue Jackets defeated the Coyotes 2-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brendan Perlini wasn’t focused on his record-setting goal on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was more amazed by the fact that he has already reached the 100-game mark in his NHL career.
“It seems like I just played my first one yesterday,” the Coyotes forward said. “It’s kind of funny because I played my first against Columbus last year and then obviously the 100th today.”
Perlini’s third-period goal in a 2-1 loss gave him goals in four straight games, tying the longest goal-scoring streak of his career (Nov. 20-25). He also has 28 goals in his first 100 games, the most in Coyotes history. Peter Mueller had 27 (2007-08).
Teemu Selanne holds the Jets-Coyotes franchise record. He had a whopping 84 in his first 100 games from 1992-1993.
“Somebody had told me that before the game,” Perlini said. “To me, it doesn’t really matter about any of that stuff. I just play the game for fun and to win.”
Perlini has made big strides this season. Coach Rick Tocchet wanted him to become a greater force on the cycle in the offensive zone, and to play more “between the face-off dots.” All four of Perlini’s goals in this streak have come in that box.
He scored on a backhand off a great individual rush against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 18. He beat St. Louis goalie Jake Allen from the left face-off dot on Saturday, he deflected Luke Schenn’s shot from the right point past New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak on Monday, and he scored from the right side of the crease on Thursday on a power play.
“He’s around the puck and he’s shooting the puck,” Tocchet said. “He’s learning where to go, he’s playing inside the dots and you get rewarded.”
OEL HEADS TO TAMPA
Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is feeling much better about his second All-Star trip this weekend to Tampa, Florida. That’s because he’s feeling better about his game.
In his last five games, Ekman-Larsson has a goal, three points and a plus-four rating. He’s also been sound in his own end. At one point on Thursday, Blue Jackets star forward Artemi Panarin had space off a rush up the left wing until Ekman-Larsson closed the gap and completely snuffed out the play.
“I don’t think I have been doing anything different. It’s just a game of inches and I think I have been getting the bounces here lately,” he said. “I feel like I’m a good player when I’m skating and moving out there and not thinking so much. That had been the case when I was struggling a little bit. I was overthinking too much.”
Ekman-Larsson is looking forward to playing with three Pacific Division players in particular in Tampa: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, San Jose’s Brent Burns and Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty.
“It’s going to fun to play with McDavid,” Ekman Larsson said. “You see how you can use his skills and his speed in your favor instead of [having] to defend against.”
As for the red carpet, Ekman-Larsson is pondering a different approach to his usual GQ style.
“It’s weird because everybody kind of expects me to look good so I’m thinking about going the other way, just keep it simple,” he said, laughing. “Just take the pressure off. We’ll see. I’ve got some ideas. I’m still working on it.”
LOOSE PUCKS
— Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski missed Thursday’s game with an undisclosed illness and is considered day-to-day. It was just the fourth game Goligoski has missed in the past six seasons.
— Coyotes center Brad Richardson left the game in the first period because of an upper-body injury, and defenseman Jason Demers (upper body) left in the third period. Tocchet did not have an update on either player.
— The Coyotes don’t play again until they host the Dallas Stars on Thursday, but they will begin practicing again on Monday, the day after the All-Star Game. For that reason, most of the players are staying in town.
Forward Clayton Keller will watch the Boston University-Arizona State hockey series on Friday and Saturday at Gila River Arena. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and goalie Antti Raanta said they plan to just relax. As Raanta noted, with the weather being so nice in Arizona, “why leave?”
