Hurricanes 1, Senators 0
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Goalie Dan Ellis, making his second start of the season, stopped 32 shots and Eric Staal's first-period goal held up as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Ottawa Senators 1-0 Friday night at PNC Arena.
Staal's fifth goal of the season enabled the Hurricanes to even their record at 3-3-0. Ottawa (5-2-1) was denied its second three-game winning streak of the season.
The Senators had scored at least three goals in all except one of their previous seven games.
Ellis, in his first season with the Hurricanes, posted his 13th career shutout in his 168th game. It was his first shutout since Nov. 9, 2010, when Tampa Bay blanked Toronto.
There were a number of missed scoring changes in a matchup between the two teams ranking first and second in the NHL in shots per game.
Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson was strong as well, building on a superb start to the season even though he lost in regulation for the first time in seven appearances. He made 34 saves.
Staal, cutting in front of Anderson, redirected Alexander Semin's shot to produce the game's goal. Joe Corvo was also credited with an assist for the defenseman's first point of the season.
Carolina led after the first period for the first time this season.
The Hurricanes thought they had a 2-0 lead midway through the second period on Jeff Skinner's shot. That was negated when it was determined the puck went off the cross bar and not into the net.
Shortly after, the Hurricanes preserved their lead by killing off a four-minute double minor assessed to defenseman Jamie McBain.
Carolina left wing Drayson Bowman was in the penalty box for boarding just 13 seconds into the game, but the Senators didn't convert.
NOTES: Right wing Andreas Nodl made his season debut with the Hurricanes after he was recalled from Charlotte of the AHL. ... The Senators will be without center Jason Spezza indefinitely after he had surgery Friday for a herniated disc. Spezza had five points in five games. ... The Hurricanes lost forward Zach Boychuk, a first-round draft pick in 2008, via waivers to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had played in the opener for Carolina before sitting as a healthy scratch in every game since then. ... Carolina played its sixth game Friday, becoming the last team in the Eastern Conference to play its sixth game. ... The Hurricanes play their next six games on the road, beginning with Saturday night's game at the Philadelphia Flyers. They'll be home again Feb. 14 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
