Andrew Ladd flashed a big smile when he learned his 100th goal came against former teammate Cam Ward.
''It's nice to score on (Ward),'' Ladd said. ''I'll have to remind him of that one. It's always nice to come into this building - someone that traded you away - and play well.''
Ladd, a key member of the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, scored the go-ahead goal in the Winnipeg Jets' 3-1 victory over the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Evander Kane scored in the first period, and Bryan Little added an empty-net goal with 9 seconds left to help the Jets earn at least a point for the fifth straight game (4-0-1). Winnipeg hadn't won on the road since Nov. 3.
Chris Mason made 20 saves in his first appearance after he injured his groin on Oct. 27.
''We did a great job,'' Mason said. ''I had a lot of action there at the start with the penalties. For me, it was tough - I went quite a long time without much action. You sit around and you kind of get a bit cold.''
Jiri Tlutsy had the lone goal for Carolina. The Hurricanes had earned points in their previous three games, but they remain at the bottom of the Southeast Division standings.
Ward made 27 saves for Carolina.
''They were just more physical than we were and faster than we were,'' Carolina coach Paul Maurice said.
Ladd scored a little more than a minute after Carolina had tied the score early in the second period.
Winnipeg defenseman Zach Bogosian started the sequence by throwing the puck at the net from the blue line. Ward couldn't quite corral it, and Ladd batted it around before finally knocking the puck into the net from inside the crease.
''Those are the types of goals you have to get in the NHL,'' Ladd said. ''Most of the goals are scored within that 5-foot radius of the net and guys getting there and creating screens.''
Tlutsy scored a nifty goal earlier in the period. He took a pass from Brandon Sutter near the blue line and used some fancy fakes and dekes to create space as he cut into the slot. His wrist shot beat Mason high on the blocker side.
Kane got the Jets on the board in the first period with a goal on an odd-man rush.
After Carolina defenseman Jamie McBain couldn't come up with the puck after pinching in the offensive zone, Kane went the other way on a 2-on-1. He accelerated toward the net on Ward's right and rifled a wrist shot off the post and into the net.
Kane has scored four goals in his last five games.
''We gave up two 2-on-1s in the first period for no good reason at all,'' Maurice said. ''The summary of what we did with the puck was foolish, and we just didn't compete hard enough.''
Neither team created many opportunities in the final period. Carolina's Jeff Skinner set up Tomas Kaberle with an open net late in the game, but Kaberle hit the side of the net.
''We're starting to find our groove here and figure out our identity and what we need to do to be successful,'' Ladd said.
NOTES: The Hurricanes' backup goalie Brian Boucher was hit by a puck on the top of his head near the end of the second period and didn't return to the bench. . Carolina defenseman Jay Harrison missed the game with an upper-body injury. . Ladd has scored in both the Jets' games against Carolina this year.
