The Carolina Hurricanes came into Ottawa and spoiled their fun, as they now have a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Welcome to our continued coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Last Word On Hockey. This is our mid-series recap of the Eastern Conference First Round series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Ottawa Senators. The Canadian Tire Centre was rocking to The White Stripes and their anthem the Seven Nation Army as the players made their entrance. However, in the end, Ottawa failed to give them much to cheer about, as Carolina downed them 2-1 in Game 3.
Credit Image: © Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire
Senators and Hurricanes 2026 Playoff Mid-Series Recap
This seems to be a series of two fairly, evenly matched teams. It has been a physical, yet disciplined series for the most part. Game 3 did see a slight shift, as there were a few power plays, despite the lack of goals scored on them.
As a whole, the series would come down to line matching and puck battles. Who could sustain puck pressure and then possession? Who was going to step up and claim those 50/50 puck battles? So far, Carolina has shown to be the bigger, faster, and more skilled team, that has given them the decided edge in the series.
Coming into the series, there was debate on who was getting the ball to start game one for Carolina. It turned out to be the seasoned vet over the unproven rook. And as the series began, it seems as though head coach Rod Brind’Amour had made the correct choice. Game 1 was a statement game by the Canes. Goaltender Frederik Andersen was able to do well to silence the critics and show he can be a difference maker. Plus, his team in front of him were able to show they’re better than their opposition.
For Ottawa, their best player in the series to this point has been goaltender Linus Ullmark. To compare the goalies, Andersen has stopped 80 of 83 shots. Meanwhile, Ullmark is right there, with 98 of 105 saves. It does show how close the series is, but again, who has the ultimate edge.
The Injuries, Particularly to the Senators Defence
We will start with a key storyline from the Sens camp. The big storyline was and continues to be the health of the Sens blueline. Moreover, one point that has made this so relevant is the fact that the Canes are relatively healthy. That goes for their forward group, along with their defence.
Tyler Kleven returned for game three with a full-face visor. He welcomed himself to the series with a big hit sending Eric Robinson into the Sens bench. Also for game three, was a player making his NHL playoff debut in Cameron Crotty. This flux of defencemen had been (at least partly) a result of Artem Zub being injured early in the second period of Game 1. Dennis Gilbert and Lassi Thomson had cycled in and out of the lineup, but both were healthy scratches for Game 3.
With the weaker right side for Ottawa, it made sense that Jordan Spence lines up with Thomas Chabot, given his arm injury. Finally, Nikolas Matinpalo would pair up with star Jake Sanderson. The point here is, this wasn’t an alignment Sen fans had been used to seeing. Furthermore, Game 3 would have an impactful injury, as we will explain in a bit.
Senators Linus Ullmark this season
October – March: 2.85 GAA, .886 Save %
April: 1.88 GAA, .930 Save %#GoSensGo— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 23, 2026
The Wild Overtime Finish to Game 2
After the Canes had the advantage in Game 1, it really did take the Sens a little while to get going. Drake Batherson finally broke the ice in Game 2, and there was a momentum shift in the entire series. Then, there was the goal along the ice by Dylan Cozens to tie the game at two. It looked the Sens were not only in the game, but the entire series. But that game was highlighted by a little retribution of sorts.
The Sens had thought they saved the game, when a goal was called back for offside in overtime. Conversely, the Canes would be awarded a penalty shot on the play. Martinook would miss that chance, but he would make no mistake later on, as he was later rewarded with the winner in Game 2.
Moreover, for Carolina, Logan Stankoven has been huge coming into the playoffs, and it carried through to the series. If we include the regular season, he is currently riding an 11-game point streak. If we fast forward to Game 3, Taylor Hall made a great rush, getting his own rebound and maintaining possession. Then, he thread the seam to perhaps the aforementioned hottest Cane in the series, Stankoven. 1-0, with Carolina already up 2-0 in the series.
Where It Went Wrong for the Senators
The Sens were hoping they could generate some momentum in the pivotal Game 3. After a couple big first period penalty kills, it helped give them the confidence they could secure their own defensive zone. However, as they headed to the second period, it would turn into a microcosm of their entire 2025-26 season. They had a couple of failed power plays to start the period. In fact, as we sit here at the end of Game 3, Ottawa is 0-for-12 on the man advantage in this series.
At one point in the second, captain Brady Tkachuk walked in all alone on Andersen. He attempted to softly slide the puck in along the ice, but was denied. It wasn’t long after that, possibly the result of an earlier hit to the head by Taylor Hall on Jake Sanderson, that the Sens star defenceman went to the locker room, and never would return.
Now, the Sens did find success in the second period. Even though the puck had cleared the zone, an errand Carolina stick knocked the puck back in the zone to Nick Cousins. Cousins had somehow been boosted up onto the top-six lines for a sequence. He fed Drake Batherson, who made a beautiful backhand, upstairs, 1-1. The CTC was alive once again after the string of failed power plays did nothing to energize the fans.
The Dagger from Carolina
Unfortunately it was short lived, as just 1:23 later, Carolina entered the Sens zone. The passed it around, and Jackson Blake found himself alone, down low, and fired into an open cage.
Even though the Sens had an entire third period to score just one goal to force overtime, Carolina just looked too strong. They were able to mitigate the Sens chances. Also, they did well to control the puck deep at times, frustrating the Sens fans and players, alike.
If the Sens aren’t going to do the things that got them here, there is no way they were going to win. They usually have a successful power play, but Carolina has stymied that in this series. Also, they usually win board battles, but that is clearly a strength of the Brind’Amour coached team. The series is now 3-0 Carolina, and Ottawa has little-to-no hope of coming back. Game 4 goes Saturday from Ottawa, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. It will be one last chance to save the season for the Sens, or the Hurricanes will be swiftly moving on to round two.
Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
