Hurricanes put Senators on the ropes with double OT Game 2 win

Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) scores the game-winner in the second overtime against the Ottawa Senators in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. James Guillory-Imagn Images

Hurricanes put Senators on the ropes with double OT Game 2 win

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Apr 21, 2026 12:40 AM ET

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The Carolina Hurricanes dealt the Ottawa Senators a possibly devastating blow in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, the first instant classic of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed won, 3-2, in double-overtime, withstanding a great game in net from Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, who finished with a .956 save percentage, and a controversial call in the first overtime to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Game 3 is Thursday in Ottawa.

Hurricanes overcome nullified goal, outstanding Linus Ullmark to take 2-0 series lead over Senators

Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook scored the winner in the second overtime after missing a penalty shot to cap a wild sequence during the initial extra session.

Carolina appeared to have won on a Mark Jankowski goal with 2:42 remaining, but a review from the replay center determined forward Jordan Staal was offside on the initial cross into Ottawa's zone, wiping out the score.

However, Senators forward Warren Foegele was handed a hooking penalty on a breakaway against Martinook for an earlier moment during the sequence, setting up Martinook's unsuccessful penalty shot.

WHAT A SEQUENCE IN RALEIGH AS WE HEAD TO A SECOND OVERTIME

The Hurricanes thought they had won in overtime, but the play was deemed offside. Jordan Martinook was awarded a penalty shot on the play, but failed to score. pic.twitter.com/sCL6ltUhQy
— ESPN (@espn) April 21, 2026

Had Carolina lost, that call would have haunted it until Game 3. Instead, the Canes can move closer to a sweep with another win.

"We held court," Martinook told ESPN after the game following his first career playoff overtime goal.

The result is potentially devastating for the Senators, who had several opportunities to even the series, most painfully when Tim Stutzle's wrist shot bounced off the left post 14 minutes into overtime.

Stutzle had a GOLLLDDDEEEENNNN chance but couldn't finish it ❌ pic.twitter.com/G3ycTvBQQw
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 21, 2026

Game 2 became a coin flip, one Ottawa needed to land in its favor. As the East's final wild card team, the Senators can't squander many — arguably any — games that are so neck-and-neck against better competition. Those moments are unlikely to come around often.

While Ottawa still has time to get back into its first-round series, Monday's loss could be a crushing blow.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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