The Rundown
For the fourth consecutive game the Canes got off to a noticeably strong start, limiting Ottawa to just seven first period shots. In a contest that included no fans in attendance due to Canada's current COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols, the team brought their own energy, forcing Senators netminder Matt Murray to come up with some timely stops in the opening 20 minutes.
The contest progressed into the second frame scoreless, but it took just 2:31 for Carolina to change that. A Brady Skjei shot from the point was redirected by Derek Stepan, who snuck behind a puck-watching Thomas Chabot for his sixth of the season.
Then, unfortunately for the Canes, Ottawa kicked it into high gear and took over the contest. They evened the score at 1-1 exactly two minutes later after a shot from Nick Paul changed directions off of Tony DeAngelo and went past Frederik Andersen. It was part of an onslaught that transpired over the game's next 35 minutes of play, almost all trending in Ottawa's favor.
Early in the third the home side made it 2-1, taking their first lead of the night after a tipped shot of their own then found its way past Carolina's All-Star netminder.
Giving them their first lead of the night, and as a part of what would be a 32-14 shots advantage for Ottawa after the opening period of play, it felt as if they were in control of a tight contest. Andersen was contributing timely stop after timely stop, but his team in front of him was simply not creating as much as he was being tasked with.
Then, with just 3:22 left, the Canes found a way to even the contest, coming courtesy of Nino Niederreiter. The line of Niederreiter, Jordan Staal and Jesper Fast was Carolina's most notable in the final frame of regulation and after a loose puck got behind Murray in Ottawa's crease, #21 stuffed it home, eventually sending the game to overtime.