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Jets' Ladd scores 15 seconds into OT

Mar 31, 2012 - 4:17 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Andrew Ladd scored just 15 seconds into overtime Friday as the Winnipeg Jets took a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Moments into the extra session, Zach Bogosian sent a pass from the right point to the front of the net where Ladd tapped it to the forehand and swept it in for the winner.

Kyle Wellwood had a goal and an assist while Jim Slater and Nik Antropov also scored for the Jets, who snapped a three-game slide. Chris Mason made 30 saves in the win.

The Jets kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They have 80 points, six back of Washington for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with four games to play.

"We want to show that we have a lot of character in the room," said Ladd. "We owe it to each other in the room and to our fans back home to battle hard the rest of these games and see where we land."

Eric Staal, Brandon Sutter and Derek Joslin all scored for the Hurricanes, who have dropped three of four. Cam Ward gave up four goals on 35 shots in the loss.

Carolina got a point out of the loss and has 78, but was eliminated from postseason contention on Friday.

"We had a 3-1 lead against a team that wasn't playing well at the time and we let them get back in," said Staal. "We can't allow that to happen and obviously we have some things to work on as a team."

Winnipeg scored just 2:23 into the game when Antropov's wrist shot from the left circle found the back of the net, but Carolina would score the next three goals.

The first came at the 11:22 mark of the first when Jeff Skinner sent a backhand pass from behind the net to the front where Joslin one-timed it home.

Just over five minutes later, Staal scored shorthanded as he caught up to a turnover in the neutral zone, held his defender off with one hand before spinning around and firing the puck into the net for his 24th of the year.

It was a 3-1 game 3:49 into the second as Sutter jammed home a loose puck during a scrum in front, but Winnipeg made it a one-goal game halfway through the second as Spencer Machacek sent a pass from the right wing to the front where Slater redirected it in.

Skating on the power play late in the third, the Jets tied the game as Wellwood snapped home a rebound in front for his 17th of the season with 4:47 to play in regulation.

Game Notes

Carolina hosts New Jersey on Saturday...Winnipeg plays in Tampa Bay on Saturday...Winnipeg won four of six from Carolina this season...The Jets were 1-for-4 on the power play while the Hurricanes went 0-for-4.