Jets 3, Bruins 1: Blake Wheeler scored a pair of goals against his former team and Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves as Winnipeg used a strong third period to overcome visiting Boston.

Evander Kane scored the go-ahead goal and Wheeler’s 14th tally went into the empty net as the Jets improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games and took over sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division.

Brad Marchand scored and Tuukka Rask turned aside 22 shots for the Bruins, who dropped their second straight overall and third in a row on the road.

Marchand scored eight seconds into the second period after the opening faceoff sailed toward the Winnipeg net and bounced off the boards right to the diminutive left wing. Marchand skated in and beat Pavelec with a back-handed shot for his 13th goal.

The Bruins had killed off 27 consecutive penalties before the third period, when Jordan Caron was called for hooking. The Jets cashed in the opportunity with Wheeler’s tip-in from the doorstep that knotted it at 1-1 with 8:16 left. Kane gave Winnipeg the lead 57 seconds later, knocking in a rebound of defenseman Grant Clitsome’s shot.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston C David Krejci (bruised right knee) did not play. Krejci had taken a slap shot off the knee on Sunday and is day-to-day. … Boston rookie C Ryan Spooner was recalled to take Krejci’s place and put two shots on goal in 15:29. … Jets D Dustin Byfuglien, who set up Wheeler’s first tally, has seven assists in his last five contests.