From the friendly confines of the Lenovo Center to the raucous barn that is the Canadian Tire Centre, the Carolina Hurricanes went from heroes to hated as their opening-round matchup shifted to Canada's capital. The Canes did what was needed of them in Raleigh, winning both games on home ice. Jordan Martinook was the hero in Game 2, scoring in double overtime to snag the 2-0 series lead.
The Canes maintained the status quo, icing the same lineup north of the border. Tyler Kleven made his first appearance in the series, returning from injury after three weeks on the shelf. He paired with Cameron Crotty, who made his postseason debut. Frederik Andersen and Linus Ullmark went to war for the third time, with the Senators' netminder hoping to finally get the best of his Carolina adversary.
If you're tired of watching Logan Stankoven score the opening goal, then you hated the start of this game. After Eric Robinson blocked a shot at one end, Taylor Hall stuck with the play after being denied on the other end, finding Stankoven for a one-timer to get off to an early start. The Canes had three chances on the power play, all of which failed, keeping the score at 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The visitors came off their discipline in the second, but the kill backed them every step of the way. Still, the Senators managed to score. A wild sequence allowed Drake Batherson to get in on a 2-on-1 and bury a backhand to tie it. However, the second line's response was swift. Just 83 seconds later, K'Andre Miller faked the entire building out, finding Jackson Blake to regain the lead before the break.
The third period was all about the Hurricanes weathering the push and keeping their lead intact. That's exactly what they did. They limited Ottawa's chances to find the tying goal, eventually leading to Ullmark heading to the bench with just over 2:00 left. While the Canes didn't find the empty net, the Senators didn't get the tying goal. The Canes swarmed their netminder, celebrating a 3-0 series lead.
The Canes' 3 pillars for success in this series got it done again
There is no 3-0 lead if three things don't happen for the Hurricanes. It starts with the Stankoven line playing out of its mind to begin the postseason. Logan Stankoven has the opening goal in all three games. Jackson Blake scored the game-winning goal. Taylor Hall assisted on both, giving him five points. The rest of the team has combined for seven points. The second line has been killer.
Speaking of killers, the Canes' penalty kill has been absolutely outstanding. Tonight, they went 5-for-5, with each infraction coming during the second period. This includes over 90 seconds of a 5-on-3, though the Senators did a good job of killing it for them. The penalty kill is now a perfect 12-for-12 in the series, preventing Ottawa from gaining any momentum up a man.
As it is said, your goalie is your most important penalty killer. Frederik Andersen has arguably been the most important player in this series, full stop. This performance lacked the theatrics of the two wins in Raleigh, but it might've been his most technically sound. He stopped 21 shots tonight, and he made it look relatively easy. Andersen has his group on the verge of advancing.
Have you seen our power play or our top line?
It seems almost counterintuitive to think that the Canes are out to this massive series lead with their top line and their power play being virtually invisible thus far. Sebastian Aho had a goal in Game 2, but that is it. He didn't record a shot tonight, and he took a penalty. Seth Jarvis looked a little better, though he was still shut out. Andrei Svechnikov was the same way.
Part of that can be attributed to another ugly night for the Canes' power play. They had three chances to extend their lead during the first period, and none of them looked particularly threatening. The same goes for their opportunity in the third, which also came up empty. The top unit continues to lack cohesion. Maybe that second unit should really be the first one.
Additional Thoughts
One of the bigger issues the Canes were facing after both games in Raleigh was their inability to win face-offs. Tonight, they had their best night, winning 54 percent. Jordan Staal won 17 of his 32 draws. Aho clocked in at 64 percent. Mark Jankowski was a team-best 5-for-6, if you exclude Jordan Martinook winning his only draw. This was an underrated part of the Hurricanes' victory.
The Senators were dealt a massive blow in the second period. Top defenseman Jake Sanderson left the game during Ottawa's 5-on-3. Ottawa bench boss Travis Green made it clear that the hit he took to the head from Taylor Hall was the reason that he left. It's unclear what the severity of his injury is, so that's a massive story to watch ahead of Saturday's Game 4.
Up Next: The Canes have four chances to finish the series. Game 4 will come around quickly, with the puck set to drop at 3 pm on Saturday in Ottawa. If the Hurricanes win, the series ends, and they'll look ahead to either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh in the second round. If Ottawa avoids the sweep, the series returns to Raleigh for Game 5 on Monday night.
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