NHL

Devils down Jets in shootout

Patrik Elias scored the only goal in the shootout as the Devils recorded a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night at Prudential Center in Newark.

It marked the Devils’ second win in their past three games, but they still have won only three times in their past 12 games.

The Devils scored the game’s opening goal for the first time in 10 games, and opened up a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta.

The Devils, who improved to 9-1-2 when scoring first, then squandered their lead when Mark Stuart and Evander Kane tied the game for Winnipeg.

In the shootout, Elias beat Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who denied Ilya Kovalchuk and David Clarkson. Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg stopped all three shooters to face him: Blake Wheeler, Kane and Andrew Ladd.

Despite being pulled in two of the past three games, Hedberg got the start and earned the win, stopping 24 shots. He allowed five goals on 18 shots in Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes, and head coach Pete DeBoer pulled him after the second period, noting he wanted to keep him fresh for Sunday’s game. It worked, as Hedberg looked quite sharp.

david.satriano@nypost.com