Hurricanes' Necas seals win in overtime as Senators' playoff hopes fade
Ottawa 6 points back of playoff spot with 4 games remaining
Stuck on the ice for grueling overtime shifts, Martin Necas knew he had better come up with an answer.
"I was gassed. When I saw it was the last minute, I wanted to get out there," Necas said. "I had energy at the end there and it was important."
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Brady Skjei each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who maintained their three-point lead over New Jersey atop the Metropolitan Division despite squandering a two-goal lead. Stefan Noesen had two assists.
Antti Raanta made 25 saves to improve to 18-2-3 as Carolina notched its 50th win of the season.
WATCH | Necas wins it in OT:
Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk had goals for Ottawa and Alex DeBrincat registered two assists.
The Senators sit six points back of both the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, with only four games remaining for each team.
Merilainen solid in debut for Senators
The outcome spoiled the NHL debut for Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen, who made 34 saves. The 20-year-old from Finland stopped all 21 shots across the second and third periods to give Ottawa a chance.
Necas attempted a wraparound earlier in overtime, but lost control of the puck. He wasn't deterred.
"It's always about your next shift and I'm happy for that," he said. "Plenty of time there and trying to just beat someone 1-on-1 and get some odd-man rushes."
Seth Jarvis delivered a pass to Necas, who connected for the game-ending sequence with his NHL-leading fourth overtime goal.
"His skill set is uniquely crafted for open ice because he has a lot of speed and has a good shot," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He has a flare for the dramatic."
"Those guys seem to miraculously get their wind back in overtime because they want to get back out there," Brind'Amour said.
Necas has a career-high 27 goals, but his OT tally ended an eight-game stretch without a goal. He has five game-winning goals, though his first in that category since late January.
"You know about it," he said. "I'm not trying to think about it too much."
Carolina looked strong in the first period. Kotkaniemi's 16th goal of the season came 1:50 into the game.
Giroux broke free toward the net and took a perfect pass from DeBrintcat for his 27th goal.
The Hurricanes failed to convert on a 5-on-3 power play that spanned the second and third periods. Then the Senators notched their first power-play goal in three games when Tkachuk converted at 2:52 of the third to tie the score at 2-2.
With files from CBC Sports
