Jets 2, Oilers 1 (SO)
EDMONTON, Alberta - In a game between one goalie who was covered in rust and another who was drowning in nerves, rust posted a 2-1 shootout victory.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec, in his first game back after three months on injured reserve, made 21 saves to beat Edmonton Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit, who was making his first NHL start of the year and just the second of his career.
Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd struck the deciding blows for the Jets, scoring shootout goals to seal the win at Rexall Place.
The Oilers didn't exactly put a lot of pressure on the Pavelec in his first game back from a knee injury. They managed eight shots in the first period and six in the second.
Brossoit, 22, was called up from the AHL late last week and wasn't supposed to play on Saturday, but was pressed into action when starter Cam Talbot came down with the flu. He stopped 32 of 33 in regulation and overtime.
After a scoreless first period, Winnipeg opened the scoring with the only goal of the second, scoring on a 2-on-1 with right winger Blake Wheeler converting a pass from left wing Nick Ehlers at 7:15.
The Jets had a chance to go up 2-0 and salt the game away on a power play midway through the third period, but instead of pulling away for good, they gave up a shorthanded breakaway goal to Matt Hendricks.
The Jets are last in the Central Division but haven't given up hope on a playoff spot. The win improves their record to 25-27-3, but they are still eight points and five teams below the final wild-card spot.
The Oilers, who've lost four of their last five, fell to 22-30-5.
NOTES: Oilers RW Jordan Eberle played his 400th NHL game Saturday. At 25 years of age he is already the longest serving active member of the team. ... Oilers G Cam Talbot came down with the flu Friday and was unable to play, giving recently recalled G Laurent Brossoit his first NHL start of the season and second of his career. ... All-Star LW Taylor Hall came into Saturday's game on a four-game scoring drought. ... Winnipeg G Ondrej Pavelec played his first game after missing the last three months with a knee injury. ... At the 54-game mark of the season last year the Jets had 62 points, they are 11 points off that pace this year. ... The Jets haven't won more than two games in a row all season. ... Jets C Mark Scheifele played his 200th NHL game Saturday. ... Oilers rookie C Connor McDavid put up 12 points in his first six games back after missing three months with a broken collarbone.