Perlini on torrid streak since returning from hand injury
Brendan Perlini doesn't remember the play on which he broke the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand. It happened in a Coyotes rookie camp game against the Los Angeles Kings in September. He had it X-rayed and nothing showed up initially.
"I didn't even feel it until the next game I played," said Perlini who had a second X-Ray after that second game that showed the break. "It's tough with any injury, let alone the hands. Hands are obviously one of my most important assets."
Perlini wound up missing about 10 weeks while the hand healed. Since his return to the Niagara IceDogs' lineup in early December, he's been on a tear to make up for lost time.
In 38 games with Niagara, which plays in the Ontario Hockey League, Perlini has 23 goals and 55 points to rank third on the team in both categories, but first in points per game at 1.45. The IceDogs had won six straight games before Wednesday's loss at Eerie, helping them clinch an OHL playoff spot.
"At first, the hand felt a little weird and stiff, but the more I played, the more it loosened," said Perlini, the Coyotes first-round pick in the 2014 draft (12th overall). "There was also that don't-want-to-get-it-hurt factor so I was a little timid until after that first weekend back."
Perlini, 18, was probably going to play another year of junior hockey anyway, but the injury setback has almost cemented that decision. Even so, there aren't any significant deficiencies in the 6-foot-3, 205-pound power forward's game that the Coyotes are targeting for development.
"His skating is such an asset and even more so on that big body," said Coyotes player development coach, Steve Sullivan. "It's hard to say exactly where he is with the missed time, but he has knack for finding open ice, he has a quick release and a really good shot. Lots of guys get scoring chances. Brendan doesn't need a lot of chances to score, at least at the OHL level. He has a knack for finding the back of the net."
Sullivan said the main emphasis for Perlini is twofold: focusing on the details of the game when he doesn't have the puck and learning just what defines NHL work ethic.
COYOTES vs. BLACKHAWKS
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Season series: Tied, 1-1.
Injuries: Arizona -- F Mikkel Boedker (splenectomy) and C Martin Hanzal (back surgery) are out for the season. F Lauri Korpikoski (upper body) is expected to play. Chicago -- F Patrick Kane (broken clavicle) is out for the rest of the regular season and likely wouldn't be available before the Western Conference Finals. D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (knee) has been sent to Rockford of the AHL for a conditioning stint. D Johnny Oduya (upper body) is expected to play.
Quick facts: With Kane sidelined, the Blackhawks freed up cap space to acquire C Antoine Vermette from the Coyotes, D Kimo Timonen from the Flyers and F Andrew Desjardins from the Sharks. It hasn't helped the Hawks' oddly struggling offense. Chicago has eight erstwhile 20-goal scorers in its lineup, yet Chicago has scored more than two goals in a non-shootout game just five times in its last 16 games. … The Blackhawks power play is in an 0-for-15 drought. … Rookie Teuvo Teravainen was centering the Blackhawks' second line at Monday's practice. … After being a healthy scratch against the Rangers on Sunday, F Bryan Bickell skated with the third line Tuesday. … In his last four games, G Corey Crawford has stopped 121 of 123 shots.
"I just don't think junior players understand exactly what that work means yet because the real prospects are so much more talented than most of the OHL so they still get points on a regular basis due to their skills," Sullivan said. "The higher you come up, whether it's the AHL or NHL, you discover you need to work much harder to get those chances and you're not going to score as consistently.
"It's so hard to convey that to players when they can't see it in the games they play. You tell them not to be happy to get through on skills but many of these guys don't understand how good the AHL is, let alone the NHL, so they're in for a shock when they get there."
To Perlini's credit, Sullivan said he is absorbing and implementing that message.
"I talk to Steve quite a bit and he's been down here quite a few times," Perlini said. "It's really good to have that insight in your ear all the time.
"We've talked about little plays I make within the game and decisions I'm making where maybe, at the next level, I can't do that because it will cost my team."
"The main thing is, I'm trying to keep the mindset that I don't really want to stay around here to be honest, so day in, day out, I'm working on my craft, trying to play both ends of the ice and get better on the defensive side of game."
At the same time, Sullivan doesn't want Perlini to lose sight of the reasons he was drafted in the first place.
"You work hard trying to figure out what their gifts are and then you try to polish that to make it even better," Sullivan said. "He has the tools to continue in this game -- all the stuff we talked about -- but you can never say that a player is a guaranteed NHL player until you make sure they are willing and able to make the hard choices to better themselves."
Perlini understands that he is probably going to spend more time in juniors and he is OK with that.
"Look at Max (Domi)," he said. "They sent him back for another year and he had a great year and really improved his overall game," Perlini said. "At the same time, I'm not ruling anything out right now.
"You see the moves the team is making. You can tell they're switching direction and trying to get younger. That obviously creates a good opportunity for me and that's pretty good motivation to do what I need to do to get there."
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