In Raleigh, the Hurricanes needed an extra effort in the third period to down the Ottawa Senators, 5-3 on Wednesday night.
“I think we were a little loose all night, but playing that team, that’s hard,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Overall, I thought it was a great effort. Freddie was good, kept us in there.”
Brady Skjei hot for the game-winner at 7:51 of the third period to give the Canes a 4-3 lead.
Frederik Andersen made 27 saves in the win.
Carolina had taken a 3-1 lead in the third period, but the Senators struck twice in a 34-second span to tie the game, 3-3.
“There were some good things, but there were some guys who probably wish they had better games,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said. “(Carolina) stayed with the game plan right through it. They put puck behind us and made it hard to change.”
Parker Kelly hit for a shorthanded goal, and Tim Stutzle added a strike for the tie in the final frame.
“When (Ottawa) tied it up, it was huge to come back and get a couple,” Brind’Amour said. “If something bad happens, we seem to shake it off. There’s no change in our demeanor on the bench. We know it’s always about that next shift.”
Jaccob Slavin scored a shorthanded marker just past the midway point of the third for the 5-3 final.
Mathieu Joseph scored early in the opening period to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.
Carolina got the game even at 1-1 when Michael Bunting scored off the power play at 2:55 of the middle frame.
“I saw the [defensemen] were playing a little high and I had a lot of time, so I knew I could take it across,” Bunting said. “That’s always the position I play on the power play, so I’m pretty comfortable in front of the net. On the power play, there’s a lot of elite guys with me out there. I just try to think the game just like them and make plays.”
Teuvo Teravainen struck at 17:57 of the second period for a 2-1 lead coming out of the frame.
With 20 seconds of fresh ice used in the third period, Jordan Staal hit for a marker to stretch the Carolina lead to 3-1.
“We’re going to need everybody. Every line’s got to contribute offensively,” Staal said. “We can do a better job defensively. Especially as forwards, we were a little (loose) with a few plays. But offensively, the guys chipped in for sure.”
Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves in the Ottawa loss.
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