“Hockey’s crazy, and sports are crazy,” winger Jordan Martinook said after winning the game for the Carolina Hurricanes in double overtime.
With a game that lasted nearly five 20-minute periods, the Hurricanes (53-22-7) fought the Ottawa Senators (44-27-11), both literally and figuratively, in what can only be described as the epitome of the NHL Playoffs– exhilarating and breathtaking.
Picking up where they left off Saturday with dropped gloves and early goals, the Canes won Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Ottawa, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series.
Becoming accustomed to making early appearances, left wing and Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk tried to recreate his Game 1 scuffle, but this time with center Sebastian Aho. Keeping his cool demeanor, Aho gently shoved him away as the officials gave Tkachuk a two-minute penalty for roughing and a power play to the Hurricanes.
On the man advantage, the Canes added their first goal to the scoresheet just over six minutes into the opening period. Scoring the opening goal yet again, center Logan Stankoven tucked the puck past the Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark after being fed through by wingers Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. Stankoven’s goal marks his second of the playoffs in as many games.
The remainder of the opening period remained goalless, but not for lack of trying, as both teams put up a combined 23 shots on goal.
The Lenovo Center heard the echoes of goaltender Brandon Bussi’s name numerous times during the regular season. Putting up record-breaking and historic performances, Bussi became Carolina’s darling very quickly, primarily due to the struggles of fellow goaltender Frederik Andersen during the regular season. It’s safe to say it was a shock to most when Canes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour chose to start the Dane in the opening round of the playoffs.
Game 1 ended in a shutout for Andersen, saving all 22 shots and reaffirming his position as the playoff starter moving forward. Starting again in Game 2, saving puck after puck and withstanding 37 shots-on-goal, the walls of Lenovo Center were no longer filled with the echoes of Bussi’s name as the fans quickly picked up “Freddie” chants.
To open the second period, Aho tipped the puck in to give the Canes a two-goal advantage. Assisted by center Jordan Staal, Aho scored his first goal of the 2026 Playoffs, adding to his existing playoff resumé of 86 points.
“It’s just staying with the grind and believing in what we’re doing, and trusting the process, and the guys did that tonight,” Staal said.
In the latter half of the middle period, Ottawa answered back. Right-wing Drake Batherson and center Dylan Cozens scored one apiece to level the score in Raleigh. Batherson used the sea of black jerseys blocking Andersen’s view to his advantage to bring the score to 2-1. Just six minutes later, Cozens netted the equalizer, using Andersen’s pads to help guide the puck into the back of the net.
After a quiet and uneventful final frame, the Hurricanes and Senators moved towards one of the most exciting events in sports — sudden death, overtime, playoff hockey.
As overtime began, the two sides wouldn’t let up and kept relentlessly putting shots on net in hopes of skating away with a win. With three minutes remaining in the first extra frame, it seemed as if left wing Mark Jankowski scored to give the Canes a dominant 2-0 series lead. It was quickly stripped away by the officials who ruled that Staal failed to maintain control of the puck as he crossed the blue line.
“You exhale, you think it’s over, especially in overtime,” Martinook said.
Although the Canes saw their golden opportunity quickly squashed, another one presented itself mere moments later.
After Martinook made a drive to the net in hopes of ending the game, Senators winger Warren Foegele took what looked to be a game-ending penalty that ended with Martinook receiving a rare penalty shot. Only the fifth overtime penalty shot in NHL history, Martinook had the game on his stick but was stopped by Ullmark, sending Game 2 to double overtime.
Fighting for the win and battling toe to toe, the two sides were near equals, with the Canes having seven shots on goal to the six from Ottawa in the final frame.
But redemption is sweet, and Martinook was in dire need of a taste. With a shot straight down the middle after the puck was passed to him by left wing Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman K’Andre Miller, Martinook aimed, fired and sniped the puck to win the game for Carolina.
“I’d be lying if I said I’d looked up and picked a corner. At that point, you’re just trying to put as many pucks on net as you can,” Martinook said.
The series now shifts up north for Games 3 and 4 in Ottawa. The first of these will be on Thursday, April 23 as the Canes look to take an even more commanding 3-0 lead. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
