Perlini showing signs of goal-scoring prowess Coyotes hoped he’d have
Jan 13, 2017, 11:02 PM
Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini (29) celebrates a goal, his second during the first period of an NHL hockey game, with defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) as Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) skates away from the celebration Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — This was the Coyotes’ vision for Brendan Perlini: a goal-scoring machine on a goal-starved franchise. A guy who can make up for roster deficiencies or in-game deficiencies with the simple flick of a puck.
While you should probably tap the brakes on any expectations that Perlini will keep up this pace, Friday’s two-goal effort against the Winnipeg Jets in a 4-3 win at Gila River Arena was a welcome breath of offensive air in a season gasping for them.
The second of his goals, and ultimately the game-winner, gave Arizona a 4-1 lead in the first period (Peter Holland and Jamie McGinn also scored). It marked the Coyotes’ highest scoring period since a four-goal outburst at Edmonton on Dec. 1, 2014.
“He’s a goal scorer. He creates opportunities,” coach Dave Tippett said. “Guys that do that and can finish on them, they’re good players. He’s showing that. He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
If you’re counting the three goals Perlini scored in his one-game re-assignment to Tucson of the AHL on Tuesday — coincidentally against the Jets’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose — Perlini has six goals in his last three pro games.
“Going down to Tucson was great; a big confidence boost,” said Perlini, who has 20 goals in 33 professional games split between the AHL and NHL. “I’m just trying to play the same style I do down there up here.”
Both of Perlini’s goals came off the rush, the first off a feed from defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson; the second when he banged in his own rebound for his sixth goal of the season.
“They were pretty much identical, but the second one just didn’t go in so I just got the rebound,” he said. “The more I keep playing in the league, the more I feel comfortable.”
Before the season began, the Coyotes staff admitted Perlini needed some time in the AHL after a bad situation with Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League had robbed him of some of his scoring mojo. Perlini acknowledges that the stint with Tucson helped, but it had another result.
“If anything, I was pissed off and wanted to prove everyone wrong,” he said. “That really just motivated me.”
At the same time, when he got the call-up after leading the Roadrunners in scoring, Perlini felt a different sensation.
“When I came here for the first time, I felt like I earned this,” he said. “This is my opportunity. Try and take it.”
There has been a lot of angst spent on the Coyotes’ ongoing youth movement and approach to that youth movement, but Perlini’s emergence, much like Max Domi’s, speaks to the importance of the process when developing young players. It doesn’t always work, and the Coyotes’ staff will freely admit that, but those two critical players are examples of how it can work, and it is especially rewarding when it works with two top-end talents who have a chance to transform this roster on what is becoming a very crowded and talented left wing.
“He didn’t have a great training camp. He was alright, but he didn’t bust a door down,” Tippett said. “Going down there and really getting his feet wet in the pro game, and getting the confidence that he could score down there was a real good experience for him.”
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