The Ottawa Senators find themselves on the brink of elimination after a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre. A raucous crowd of 18,753 watched as the Senators fell behind 3-0 in the series, a deficit they have never overcome in franchise history, going 0-for-6 when trailing 3-0, including last spring against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Game 4 a must-win
Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, with the Senators needing a victory to keep their season alive. Goaltender Linus Ullmark has performed admirably, but the team has been stymied by Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen. Only Drake Batherson managed to solve Andersen, scoring the Senators' lone goal.
Injury concerns
The Senators finished the game without defenseman Jake Sanderson, who left after taking a shot to the head from Taylor Hall in the second period. The officials assessed only a minor penalty on the play, though a five-minute major could have been warranted. Sanderson also blocked a shot with his hand, but the head shot is believed to be the reason for his absence.
Defenseman Tyler Kleven returned after missing the first two games due to jaw surgery, paired with Cameron Crotty making his playoff debut. However, the Senators again finished with only five available defensemen.
Lineup changes
Head coach Travis Green shuffled his lines, moving Brady Tkachuk to the right side with Tim Stutzle and Batherson for the first time since Jan. 10. Warren Foegele moved to the left of the third line with Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio after the duo struggled in the first two games.
The Hurricanes have been relentless, and the Senators have struggled to sustain pressure in the offensive zone. Batherson tied the game at 1-1 at 16:06 of the second period after a steal by Nick Cousins, but Jackson Blake restored Carolina's lead with 2:31 left in the period, beating Ullmark on the glove side.
Power play woes
The Senators' power play continued to struggle, going 0-for-11 in the series. A 5-on-3 advantage for 1:28 in the second period yielded only one shot and no goals, leaving the team disjointed and ineffective.
The crowd was electric early, with Tim Stutzle noting before the game, "That's the energy you kind of feed off. That's what you dream about as a kid." But the excitement faded as the Senators fell behind.
With their season on the line, the Senators must find a way to solve Andersen and the Hurricanes' relentless forecheck to force a Game 5 back in Carolina.
