Andrew Ladd scores shootout winner as Jets down Blues 2-1

WINNIPEG - Andrew Ladd scored the decisive goal in the shootout to give the Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

Drew Stafford picked up the only goal in regulation time for the Jets (36-23-12) while David Backes scored the lone goal for the Blues.

Winnipeg's Ondrej Pavelec made 32 saves for his 16th win of the season as Brian Elliott stopped 33 shots for St. Louis (45-20-6).

The Jets temporarily move three points up on the Calgary Flames, who are also in action Thursday, for the second and final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Both sides played to a scoreless first, but the period wasn't without its chances.

Pavelec and his counterpart Elliott had to be on their toes as the pace picked up following just three combined shots after eight minutes of play.

Blues defenceman Carl Gunnarsson registered the best chance of the period when the former Toronto Maple Leaf found time and space as he trotted in from the blue-line, but was turned away by the Czech netminder.

The Blues got on the board first at 8:08 of the second period when Backes beat a sprawling Pavelec after taking a cross-ice pass from Paul Stastny.

Backes' goal was his 25th of the season, marking the fourth time that he has reached 25-goal mark in his nine-year career.

Jacob Trouba came close to tying the contest a few minutes later. Blake Wheeler found the sophomore defenceman in space, but Trouba's shot rang off the post.

Meanwhile, Pavelec continued his stellar play, making two acrobatic saves on a Blues power play late in the second to keep it a one-goal game.

Michael Frolik and Mark Stuart each hit the post in the third period for the Jets, but Stafford would finally solve Elliott with under 10 minutes to go after a nifty drop pass from Tyler Myers.

The goal was Stafford's 15th of the season and sixth since joining the Jets after being acquired from Buffalo prior to the NHL trade deadline.

Winnipeg welcomes the Washington Capitals on Saturday night while St. Louis travels to Minnesota for a matchup with the Wild.