Pavelec makes 21 saves in return, Ladd scores in shootout as Jets edge Oilers

EDMONTON - Andrew Ladd scored the shootout winner as the Winnipeg Jets came away with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Blake Wheeler scored in regulation for the Jets (25-27-3), who have won three of their last four.

Matt Hendricks responded for the Oilers (22-29-6), who have lost four of their last five games.

The game started slow with a scoreless first, and Edmonton holding an 8-5 lead in shots.

The Jets finally broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second period on a 2-on-1 break with Nikolaj Ehlers feeding Wheeler, who beat Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit for his 15th of the season. Brossoit made his first start of the season with Cam Talbot suffering from an illness and only his second career NHL start — the first a 49 save-performance against the San Jose Sharks last April. He finished with 32 saves in defeat.

Edmonton had a good chance just past the midway mark of the middle frame on a short-handed breakaway for Teddy Purcell, but he wasn't able to get a good shot away on Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who made his first start since Nov. 2 after missing 33 games with a knee injury. Pavelec finished with 21 saves for the win.

The next Oilers short-handed breakaway connected, however, as Hendricks came in alone and beat Pavelec to the stick side with a snap shot to make it 1-1 with nine minutes to play and eventually send the game to extra time.

Edmonton had the best chance in overtime, but defenceman Eric Gryba sent a short-handed shot off the crossbar.

Both teams are off until Tuesday. The Oilers host the Anaheim Ducks and the Jets will travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes.

Notes: It was the second of three meetings this season between the two teams, with Edmonton coming away with a 3-1 win against the Jets at Rexall Place on Dec. 21… It was the 400th career NHL game for Edmonton's Jordan Eberle and 200th for Jet Mark Scheifele… Despite being ill, Cam Talbot was able to serve as backup goalie for Edmonton, but was not on the bench for the game… Out with injuries for the Oilers were Oscar Klefbom (lower body), Andrew Ference (hip) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand)… Missing from the Winnipeg lineup was Grant Clitsome (back).