Hurricanes 4, Senators 3 (SO)
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Defenseman Jaccob Slavin scored in the fourth round of a shootout to give the Carolina Hurricanes an unlikely 4-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at PNC Arena.
Carolina left winger Jeff Skinner's goal with less than one second remaining in regulation tied the score at 3-3. It came after the Hurricanes skated with an empty net for nearly two minutes to end the third period.
Ottawa's Mika Zibanejad and Carolina's Riley Nash converted in the shootout. Nash was the third Carolina shooter in a must-score situation to extend the session.
The Senators struck near the end of two periods for goals. Zack Smith's short-handed goal in the final minute of the second period broke a 2-2 tie.
Ottawa goalie Andrew Hammond stopped 34 shots.
Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel scored first-period goals for the Senators, who have won only once in their past five games.
Skinner and Jay McClement, who converted a short-handed goal, scored in the second period for the Hurricanes, who won for the second time in their past six games (1-4-1).
Carolina goalie Cam Ward made 21 saves. He stopped Smith on the final attempt of the shootout.
The Hurricanes (30-26-11) came back from a two-goal deficit, but the Senators reclaimed the lead at 3-2 with 35 seconds left in the second period.
Smith had the go-ahead goal by sending the puck between Ward's pads.
Ottawa had its way earlier. Stone's first goal in six games opened the scoring less than eight minutes in.
Ottawa center Scott Gomez assisted on the first goal, giving him his first point since joining the Senators as a free agent March 2. He played in four games with his new team.
The Senators (31-29-8) scored their second goal with 26 seconds left in the first period. It came when Dzingel had a clear path to push the puck past Ward on the backside.
Skinner had the Hurricanes on the board just 1:48 into the second period. His team-leading 24th goal came when he collected the rebound after an initial shot went off the boards and the Senators were caught unaware of the direction of the puck.
McClement, who hadn't played in the four previous games because of an upper-body injury, notched his unassisted goal when he beat Ottawa center Mike Zibanejad to the puck and then got the puck past Hammond, who appeared in solid position to cut off McClement's angle.
Both clubs are on the outer fringe of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
NOTES: The Canadiens announced before the game that C Lars Eller was out with a lower-body injury, joining RW Brendan Gallagher, who was injured Saturday. ... RW Lucas Lessio replaced Eller in the lineup. ... Dallas RW Patrick Eaves returned after missing six games with an illness. ... Stars LW Patrick Sharp missed his third game with a lower-body injury. RW Brett Ritchie and LW Travis Moen were the healthy scratches. ... Montreal D Andrei Markov suited up for his 913th NHL game, moving him into sole possession of 10th place on the team's career games played list.