Elias sends Devils to SO win over Jets
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Patrik Elias scored the only goal in the shootout, as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 3-2, on Sunday at Prudential Center.
After the first four shooters came up empty, Elias skated in and snuck a backhander through the five-hole of Ondrej Pavelec to put the Devils in front.
Winnipeg's Andrew Ladd had a chance to extend the shootout, but Johan Hedberg was able to turn away Ladd's wrister to send the Devils to their second victory in their last three games.
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Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta each scored once for New Jersey, which got 23 saves from Hedberg.
"When we got to the shootout, I knew that we were in good position to win the game," Hedberg said. "I really needed this, and maybe now I can put a few good games together."
Mark Stuart registered a goal and assist, while Evander Kane netted the game- tying goal for the Jets, who had a two-game win streak snapped.
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Pavelec posted 25 saves in the setback.
Carter and Gionta struck just 1:25 apart near the midpoint of the first to stake the Devils to a 2-0 lead.
Carter's fifth of the season came off a rebound, as he recovered a Travis Zajac shot in front and flipped a backhander past Pavelec at the 8:47 mark.
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Just under 1 1/2 minutes later, Gionta raced down the left wing and cut in front before slipping a shot through the five-hole of Pavelec for a two-goal edge.
"We didn't come out a little flat, we came out a lot flat," Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said of his team falling into a 2-0 hole.
Winnipeg answered just over six minutes later to trim the margin in half, as Stuart threw a shot on net from outside the left circle that deflected off the stick of New Jersey defenseman Andy Greene in front and snuck past Hedberg to bring the Jets within 2-1 at the 16:17 mark.
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Kane provided the equalizer late in the second, as he skated in on a 2-on-1 rush before rifling a shot from the left circle that sailed high over Hedberg's glove to knot the game at the 17:19 mark of the middle stanza.
Game Notes
Winnipeg had taken the first two meetings with New Jersey this season ... New Jersey improved to 8-3-2 as the host this season ... Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.