23 April 2026 at 23:30
Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake scored, Andersen made 21 saves and Carolina edged Ottawa 2-1 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead.AI
Match Events
Key match events between Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes — 3 goals and 9 cards recorded during the match.
E. Robinson
High sticking
Interference
Too many men on the ice
Hooking
Illegal check to the head
Too many men on the ice
Hooking
T. Hall
Tripping
Interference
Match Analysis AI
Stankoven, Blake Push Carolina to 3-0 Series Lead
Logan Stankoven scored the opening goal for the third straight playoff game, Jackson Blake netted the late go-ahead 83 seconds after Ottawa tied it, and Frederik Andersen made 21 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday to take a 3-0 series lead.
Ottawa Senators 1 - 2 Carolina Hurricanes (periods 0-1, 1-1, 0-0)
Goals: 36:06 Batherson (Cousins) — 5:13 Stankoven (Hall), 37:29 Blake (Miller, Hall).
Goalies: Ullmark (25 saves) — Andersen (21 saves).
Power play: OTT 0-for-5 (incl. 5-on-3); CAR 0-for-4. Series: Carolina lead 3-0.
Stankoven again — first goal, three games running
Stankoven made it 1-0 at 5:13 of the first when he beat Linus Ullmark off a feed from Taylor Hall, becoming the first player in Hurricanes history to score the opening goal in three consecutive playoff games. Carolina killed off two Ottawa power plays, including a 5-on-3, to keep the lead through 40 minutes despite the home side's pressure.
Batherson ties it, Blake answers immediately
Drake Batherson finally found a way past Andersen at 16:06 of the second period after a Nick Cousins assist — but the equalizer was short-lived. Just 83 seconds later, at 17:29, Jackson Blake converted off a K'Andre Miller and Taylor Hall set-up to restore Carolina's lead. The Senators couldn't manufacture a clean look in the third, and Andersen calmly closed it out.
Andersen, the difference
Andersen finished with 21 saves, including a stretch in the third where Ottawa pushed for the equalizer. Ottawa was 0-for-5 on the power play, including a failed 5-on-3 in the second period — the type of opportunity a team trailing in a series cannot squander. The defensive lapse was compounded when Jake Sanderson left in the second period after a head-contact penalty against Hall.
What it means
Carolina sit one win from a sweep, with Game 4 on Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre. Ottawa, who have not led at any point in the series, will need to win four straight to extend their season — and they will likely have to do it without Sanderson.
Player Ratings
Logan Stankoven (Carolina Hurricanes)
First Hurricanes player to score the opening goal in three straight playoff games.
Jackson Blake (Carolina Hurricanes)
Game-winning goal at 17:29 of the second period, 83 seconds after Ottawa had tied it.
Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes)
21 saves on 22 shots; held Ottawa to one goal despite a busy night.
Drake Batherson (Ottawa Senators)
Senators' lone goal at 16:06 of the second period from Cousins; brief moment of life before Blake's reply.
Match Videos
Hurricanes vs. Senators | NHL Playoff Highlights | Game 3 | April 23, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Senators vs Hurricanes Game 3?
Carolina Hurricanes 2, Ottawa Senators 1.
Who scored the game-winning goal?
Jackson Blake at 17:29 of the second period, assisted by K'Andre Miller and Taylor Hall.
How many saves did Frederik Andersen make?
Andersen stopped 21 of 22 shots faced.
What is the series score?
Carolina lead the Eastern Conference First Round series 3-0.
Where was Game 3 played?
Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
When is Game 4?
Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, with Carolina aiming to complete the sweep.
Match Summary
Carolina Hurricanes defeated Ottawa Senators 2:1. The match was played in NHL 2025. Goals were scored by L. Stankoven 5′, D. Batherson 16′, J. Blake 17′. Score by period: P1: 0–1, P2: 1–1, P3: 0–0.
Match Context
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Eastern Conference First Round, Game 3
Carolina, the No. 1 seed in the Metropolitan, push Ottawa to the brink of elimination.
Pre-Match Analysis
Ottawa Senators Form
L-L-L
Carolina Hurricanes Form
W-W-W
Head to Head
Hurricanes won Games 1-2 in Raleigh.
Injuries & Suspensions
- •Jake Sanderson (Ottawa) left in the second period after a head-contact penalty against Hall.
Match Report
Stankoven opened the scoring early in the first, Batherson tied it late in the second, and Blake scored 83 seconds later to give Carolina the lead they would not relinquish.
Turning Point
Jackson Blake's go-ahead goal at 17:29 of the second period — coming just 1:23 after Batherson had finally beaten Andersen, it deflated the home crowd and reset the entire game.
Carolina lead the best-of-seven 3-0 and can sweep in Game 4 on Saturday.
Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes Head to Head Results
Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes have met 58 times — Ottawa Senators won 21, Carolina Hurricanes won 37, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Carolina Hurricanes leads the head-to-head with 37 victories from 58 meetings. A combined 313 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.40 per match (132 for the home side, 181 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 51 matches (88%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 56 games (97%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Carolina Hurricanes are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 7–5 in 2025.
21
Ottawa Senators
0
Drawn
37
Carolina Hurricanes
Recent Meetings (58)
API data: 24 Apr 2026