WINNIPEG — Everything was going so well - until, much like the Winnipeg Jets' season so far, it wasn't.

The Jets continued their slump away from the playoff race, dropping a 2-1 matinee tilt to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon at MTS Centre. The loss especially stung, coming as it did after the Jets squandered a one-goal lead going into the third period.

Winnipeg’s slim lead ended 10 minutes into the frame when Devils defenceman Kurtis Foster knocked a puck past Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. Minutes later, Patrik Elias buried his 16th goal of the year to give the Devils the lead.

The Jets had no answer and even handed New Jersey a penalty shot with only a few minutes left in regulation time. Elias missed the net on his attempt, and paved the way for one final rally by the Jets. In the end, though, the pressure came to naught.

Andrew Ladd scored the Jets’ lone goal, snapping a shot past Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur with 1:39 left to go in the first period.

Jets winger Blake Wheeler, the team’s top scorer with 32 points this season, left the game with an apparent chest or throat injury, and did not return.