Hurricanes beat the Senators 2-1 to take a 3-0 series lead

Carolina Hurricanes

OTTAWA, Ontario — Jackson Blake broke a tie late in the second period, Frederik Andersen made 21 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

The top team in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, the Hurricanes can wrap up the series in Ottawa.

“You just want to keep taking steps,” Andersen said. “That was a really good grind.”

Logan Stankoven also scored for Carolina, and Taylor Hall had two assists.

Hall and linemates Stankoven and Blake have combined for 13 points in the series.

“They’ve been really special,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They’re contributing and putting goals up for us.”

Drake Batherson scored for Ottawa, and Linus Ullmark stopped 25 shots.

Only four teams in NHL history have overcome a 3-0 series deficit.

“Pretty frustrating, but we’ve got to find a way,” Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. “We’ve never quit all season … got to step up to the occasion.”

Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson left in the second period after taking an illegal check to the head from Hall.

Stankoven opened the scoring at 5:13 of the first period with his third goal of the series. He beat Ullmark with a one-timer from the left side.

Batherson tied it with 3:54 left in the second, taking a pass from Nick Cousins in the slot, moving left and flipping a backhander past Andersen.