The Carolina Hurricanes scored their first four-on-four goal of the season while defeating the Ottawa Senators, 2-1 in overtime on Friday night at the RBC. It was also the first win for the Canes this season once a game went beyond regulation.
Tuomo Ruutu tipped in the game winner just 1:36 into the extra period. Jussi Jokinen made a nice play on the puck and got it out to Jay Harrison, who rifled it at the net. It was Ruutu's 12th of the season.
The Hurricanes got off to a fast start and took a 1-0 lead just 2:33 into the game. It originally looked like Riley Nash might have netted his first career NHL goal, but Andreas Nodl got the credit when his pass was directed into the net by an Ottawa skate. Nash did earn his first assist on the play.
The home team dominated that first period and outshot the Sens 19-6, but left the ice with a 1-1 tie as Cam Ward was unable to stop a knuckling floater sent in to the net by Filip Kuba. But the goalie recovered and ended up making 22 saves on 23 shots for the game.
The Canes put 38 shots on goal but were stymied by Craig Anderson most of the night.
Carolina will now take a couple of days off for Christmas until hitting the ice again on the 26th for a game against the Devils.
Game Notes:
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Justin Faulk once again led all skaters with 22:54 of ice time. Jay Harrison was next with 22:46. Low man was Anthony Stewart with 6:50.
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Eric Staal and Ruutu led the team with five shots on goal each. Kirk Muller really liked Ruutu's game and said he had a "great" one.
- Again, there was not much hitting in this game. The Canes were credited with 14 hits, led by Harrison and Dwyer with two each.
- The team won 57% of their faceoffs: (Staal 62%, Sutter 58%, Jokinen 61%, Nash 20%).
- Carolina could not score during almost a full two minute 5-on-3 advantage. Muller called timeout over half way through it to try to set something up, but the Sens were equal to the task.
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Tim Gleason had a team high four blocked shots.
- Once again, the Canes had a ton of shots blocked, (24) and missed the net several times, (21). They put a total of 83 shots toward the net compared to 53 for the Sens. But they were also playing a tired team which had played until OT the night before and in this case, did not get in until 4 a.m.
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