Perreault’s return figures to give Jets more flexibility
WINNIPEG It’s time for Paul Maurice to put all of his cards on the table.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are generally a battle of attrition, with many players banged up and playing through pain.
And while you can understand the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets wasn’t ready to make anything close to wholesale changes after watching his team rally from three goals down to earn a 7-4 victory in Game 3, the margin for error in the series with the Nashville Predators is now razor thin.
For both teams, that’s a simple fact of life when it’s tied 2-2 and it’s down to a best-of-three, with two of those games on the road if it goes the distance.
And that’s why Maurice needs to dress as close to an optimal lineup as he can for Game 5 on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Right-winger Joel Armia had some early flashes in Thursday’s 2-1 loss, but his ice time was limited (7:58 total) especially after the Jets fell behind 2-0 in the game and essentially made it a three-line game during the third period.
Now that Armia has his feet back under him after missing three games with an undisclosed upperbody injury, look for Mathieu Perreault to be called into duty.
Although Perreault declared himself ready on Wednesday, one would think the Jets were simply erring on the side of caution and giving him a few more days to recover from a suspected shoulder injury he sustained in the opening game of the playoffs against the Minnesota Wild.
“I don’t know yet because it hasn’t been told to me yet. But yeah, it’s hard to be watching from the stands, so I definitely want to be out there,” Perreault said on Friday.
“It’s coach’s decision. I’m here waiting and I’ll be ready when I get the chance.”
Maurice was quick to pour cold water on the theory that Perreault could be considered a healthy scratch for Game 4 after declaring himself ready to go.
“It wasn’t close, fellas,” Maurice said before the Jets departed for Tennessee. “I’m not saying how close it is. He feels he’s ready to play, that’s really, really important. The docs like where he’s at, that’s really important. I’m not putting two guys in my lineup that I’m concerned about coming in off injury on any single given night.”
The return of Perreault could have a big impact on the Jets.
By replacing veteran Matt Hendricks, Perreault would provide some additional offensive punch for a group that could use a little more balance in its attack.
Perreault is a proven point producer and a guy who moved around the lineup earlier in the season whenever another guy needed to get going.
Even though he went through a late-season dry spell and missed 11 games due to injury, Perreault still managed to record 17 goals (one shy of his career high) and 39 points.
Perreault would give the Jets second power-play unit a shot in the arm and he has the ability to play up and down the lineup, depending on the situation.
That move would also provide Maurice with the opportunity to reunite his top checking line of Adam Lowry between Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev.
Although Maurice likes the way Little is playing on the wing with Lowry and Tanev, the versatile forward might be even more effective moving back to his natural position of centre between Perreault and Armia.
Through four games, the Jets have scored 16 goals, averaging four per game.
Against most teams, that would be plenty, but the Predators have a potent offence of their own.
That’s why reuniting Lowry, Copp and Tanev makes perfect sense.
Even if Maurice wants to keep Little on the wing with Lowry, the return of Perreault means the Jets don’t need to shelter the fourth unit or limit them to sixto-eight minutes of ice time in a game, which would also keep others fresher.
On the defence, Dmitry Kulikov ( back injury) probably needs more time to heal.
Kulikov has been out since March 10 and to thrust him into this series would bring ample risk.
Joe Morrow scored the gamewinning goal in Game 1 against the Wild and could be a consideration to replace Ben Chiarot if Maurice was looking for a bit more offence.
But Chiarot was physical and assertive in Game 3 and that’s when he’s at his best.
With the intensity of the series heating up, Chiarot is expected to remain on the third pairing with Tyler Myers.
Now is not the time for Maurice to panic.
He’s used a steady hand throughout the course of the season and there’s no reason to think that will change now.
Ultimately, the final two or three games (if necessary) are going to come down to execution, but a subtle tweak to the lineup and the line combinations could end up being the difference between the Jets moving on to the third round or bowing out against the Presidents’ Trophy winners.