Necas scores in OT as Hurricanes edge Senators 3-2

The outcome spoiled the NHL debut for Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen, who made 34 saves. The 20-year-old from Finland stopped all 21 shots across the second and third periods to give Ottawa a chance.

Necas has a career-high 27 goals, but his OT tally ended an eight-game stretch without a goal. He has five game-winning goals.

Carolina looked strong in the first period. Kotkaniemi’s 16th goal of the season came 1:50 into the game.

Skjei’s power-play goal came with 4:02 left in the first, giving him 18 goals. That matches the most goals for a defenceman in the franchise’s 25 years in North Carolina.

Giroux broke free toward the net and took a perfect pass from DeBrincat for his 27th goal.

The Hurricanes failed to convert on a 5-on-3 power play that spanned the second and third periods. Then the Senators notched their first power-play goal in three games when Tkachuk converted at 2:52 of the third.

NOTES

Giroux has scored 14 career goals against Carolina, marking the highest number for any current Ottawa player. … Tkachuk has posted nine goals in the last 12 games. … The Hurricanes are 32-3-4 when scoring first this season.

UP NEXT

Senators: At Florida on Thursday to conclude a three-game trip.

Hurricanes: At Nashville on Thursday to begin a three-game road trip.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

Bob Sutton, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Necas scores in OT as Hurricanes edge Senators 3-2

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