Jets 2, Maple Leafs 1
Bryan Little scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period as the Winnipeg Jets shaded visiting Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday to halt the Maple Leafs' three-game winning streak.
The Jets couldn't shake their lengthy offensive struggles - scoring 11 times in the last eight games - but the defense held high-scoring Toronto at bay to help end a two-game losing skid.
Phil Kessel's 30th goal of the season provided the lone offense for Toronto 11:06 into the opening period. The All-Star forward fired a wrist shot that eluded a screened Ondrej Pavelec for his fourth goal in three games.
Chris Thorburn drew the Jets even at 14:16, lofting a backhand shot past Toronto netminder Jonas Gustavsson.
Little put Winnipeg in front 9:47 into the middle frame, shoveling home a rebound after Blake Wheeler's initial shot was turned aside.
Dion Phaneuf provided the period's other highlight, rocking Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian with a thunderous open-ice hit.
Toronto had a golden opportunity to even things late in the third, but Pavelec made a sensational save on Matthew Lombardi.