NHL: Winnipeg 3, New Jersey 1

• Tweet

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Andrew Ladd scored 8 seconds into the game Thursday and then put Winnipeg in front for good during the third period to lift the Jets past New Jersey 3-1.

Ladd stunned the Devils with his early goal, putting a backhander past Johan Hedberg. He tied the franchise record for earliest goal in a game.

That was the only Winnipeg score until Ladd beat Hedberg again on a wrist shot with 8:01 to play, giving the Jets a 2-1 advantage. Blake Wheeler tallied into an empty net with 36 seconds remaining.

Winnipeg remained hot in its return from a road trip on which the Jets went 4-1-0. New Jersey suffered its third straight loss.

Ondrej Pavelec allowed only a second-period goal by Andrei Loktionov and got the win by making 22 saves. Hedberg stopped 18 shots.