Yikes
The Carolina Hurricanes topped a tough one to the Ottawa Senators on home ice on Friday night.
The Hurricanes were blanked for the second time this season and the second time in the last six games, as Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark turned aside all 32 shots he faced in a game that put the Senators back over NHL .500 at 14-13-2.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, but Shane Pinto capitalized on a poor defensive sequence from the Hurricanes four minutes into the second, as he staked out some prime real estate between the dots and rifled one past Pyotr Kochetkov to make it 1-0.
Early in the third Ottawa threatened in a big way to make it 2-0 on a power play, but Kochetkov made a huge save and then lunged back with the pad to get the rebound to keep the deficit at one goal.
The Hurricanes continued to struggle offensively, and the little hope they had left to get back in the game was dashed when Kochetkov faltered with about five minutes to play, as Nick Jensen strolled down from the right point and slid an unscreened shot through the five-hole to make it 2-0.
The empty-net sequence was not overly threatening for the home team, either, as Pinto eventually buried one into the yawning cage for his second of the night to send the game to its final tally of 3-0.
Seth Jarvis and Brent Burns led the way with five shots on goal apiece, while Shayne Gostisbehere played a team-high 21:08 and was the most dangerous looking Hurricane on his way to three shots.
The Hurricanes will take the ice again on Sunday and try to get in the win column with another favorable matchup, as the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town.