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Frattin, Kessel help Leafs edge Jets

Feb 8, 2013 - 4:51 AM Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) - Matt Frattin and Phil Kessel each netted third-period goals as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Winnipeg Jets, 3-2, at MTS Centre.

Tyler Bozak added a goal and an assist, while James Reimer made 23 saves in Toronto's second straight win.

"We didn't play our best in the first two periods, but it is the road and you got to win however you can and we'll take it," Bozak said.

The win was the Maple Leafs' first in Winnipeg since Nov. 1, 1995, when the Leafs defeated the original Jets, who are now known as the Phoenix Coyotes.

Zach Redmond and Grant Clitsome scored for the Jets, who have lost four of their last five games. Ondrej Pavelec allowed all three goals on just 18 shots.

The Jets took a 2-1 lead 3:46 into the third period when Clitsome's one-timer from the left point made its way through a crowd and into the top-right corner, but Toronto answered with 5:02 left in the frame with Frattin's deflection in front of a Cody Franson one-timer from the top of the right circle.

Winnipeg's Alexei Ponikarovsky was then whistled for holding less than 30 seconds later, and the Maple Leafs converted on the power play when Kessel grabbed a drop pass just inside the blue line and let loose with a wrister from the right circle that snuck inside the near post for his first goal of the season.

The Jets then failed to net the equalizer despite pulling Pavelec for the final minute of play as the Maple Leafs hung on for the victory.

"We struggled a bit in our zone. Even against their fourth line, there was a point there where we struggled." Jets coach Claude Noel said. "Why we're like that, I'm not quite sure."

Winnipeg broke a scoreless tie at the 3:32 mark of the second period while shorthanded as an offensive zone turnover by Toronto led to a 2-on-1 rush for the Jets, which Redmond finished with a wrister from the left circle that sailed past the glove of Reimer.

But Toronto knotted the game at a goal apiece while also shorthanded after Bozak poked the puck away from Winnipeg's Paul Postma at the Maple Leafs' blue line and raced down the ice on a breakaway, finishing with a wrister over the glove of Pavelec just under three minutes later.

Game Notes

Redmond recorded his first career goal ... Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom had an assist to extend his point streak to eight games. He has two goals and 10 assists during that span ... Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien missed his fourth straight game with a lower body injury ... Toronto defenseman John- Michael Liles was playing in his 600th career game ... The Maple Leafs improved to 5-1-0 on the road this season, while Winnipeg fell to 3-2-0 at home.