Winnipeg Jets score early and hang on to beat Edmonton Oilers 3-2

WINNIPEG – It was sloppy at times but the Winnipeg Jets earned their first win of the pre-season by hanging on for 3-2 nail biter Tuesday night.

Michael Frolik on the power play and Carl Klingberg scored for the Jets in the second period. Eric Tangradi assisted on both.

Anthony Peluso added another for Winnipeg in the third period before Edmonton connected.

Mitchell Moroz put the Oilers on the board with less than four minutes left, with an assist from Philip Larson, and Larson then banged in his own less than half a minute later.

Regular starter Ondrej Pavelec made his pre-season debut in goal for the Jets, who now sit 1-1-1 after three games.

The Oilers (1-1-1) played former Dallas Stars’ netminder Richard Bachman, signed as a free agent this summer, who made some good saves but faced a lot more traffic.

The Jets outshot the Oilers 29-24 and in the first two periods outhit them 24-19, but also gave away the puck a total of eight times in those periods to just twice for Edmonton.

After a scoreless first, Frolik banged in Tangradi’s rebound at 8:45 of the second after Edmonton left-winger Linus Omark took a holding penalty.

Klingberg failed to connect with his first shot but Tangradi gave him another chance and he slammed it in from the slot at the 13-minute mark.

The Jets were still celebrating Peluso’s goal when Moroz spoiled Pavelec’s shutout and Larsen quickly brought the Oilers within one.

Despite solid pressure, Edmonton couldn’t even the game.

Winnipeg’s next game is Thursday against new division rival the Minnesota Wild.

Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins was applauded by Winnipeg fans who remember his time with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, where he finished his playing career.

He even played a couple of games with the old Winnipeg Jets just before they relocated to Phoenix.