NHL Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs – Game 3
Faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
TV/Streaming: TBS, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS, FanDuel Sports Network
Series Context and Team Records
This is a best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round series. Carolina (Metropolitan Division champions and top seed in the East) earned home-ice advantage with a stellar regular season and has taken a commanding 2-0 lead after two hard-fought victories at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Ottawa, an Eastern wild-card team making its first playoff appearance in several years, is now on the brink and must find a way to steal a game at home to extend the series.
Game 1 (April 18, Lenovo Center): Hurricanes 2, Senators 0
Game 2 (April 20, Lenovo Center): Hurricanes 3, Senators 2 (2OT)
Regular-season records (2025-26):
Carolina Hurricanes: 53-22-7, 113 points (z – 1st in Eastern Conference)
Ottawa Senators: 44-27-11, 99 points (x – Eastern wild card)
Carolina led the league in many advanced metrics and posted one of the best goal differentials (+56). Ottawa showed improvement and a dangerous young core but enters this matchup as clear underdogs.
Recent Team Forms
Hurricanes: Carolina has looked like the best team in the East through the first two games. They posted a shutout in Game 1 behind elite goaltending and smothering defense, then showed resilience in Game 2 by winning in double overtime despite Ottawa’s push. Their five-on-five play, penalty kill, and structured forecheck have been dominant. The Hurricanes are 2-0 and have yet to allow more than two goals in regulation.
Senators: Ottawa has been competitive but has come up short in key moments. They were blanked in Game 1 and forced overtime in Game 2, but defensive lapses and an inability to sustain pressure against Carolina’s speed have hurt them. The young lineup (led by Brady Tkachuk) has shown fight, but the Senators are now 0-2 and must generate more offense at home to avoid a sweep.
Injury Report
Carolina Hurricanes: Largely healthy entering Game 3. No major injuries reported for the series. The team managed some depth absences late in the regular season, but the playoff roster is intact and rolling. Frederik Andersen has started both games and remains the clear No. 1 option.
Ottawa Senators (notable absences impacting the blue line):
Nick Jensen (D) – Out for the season (lower body)
Artem Zub (D) – Day-to-day / missed time after leaving Game 1 early (undisclosed); status uncertain for Game 3
Tyler Kleven (D) – Day-to-day (upper body)
Ottawa’s defense has already been thinned, which could create matchup problems against Carolina’s speed and skill up front.
Key Player Matchups
Hurricanes’ Top Six (Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Nikolaj Ehlers) vs. Senators’ Defense and Linus Ullmark: Carolina’s depth scoring and transition game have overwhelmed Ottawa early. Aho and Jarvis are playoff-tested difference-makers.
Senators’ Captain Brady Tkachuk & Tim Stützle / Dylan Cozens vs. Hurricanes’ Shutdown Pairs (Jaccob Slavin, etc.): Tkachuk has been Ottawa’s emotional leader and offensive catalyst; containing him will be Carolina’s top priority.
Special Teams: Carolina’s penalty kill has been excellent. Ottawa’s power play must click at home or the series could end quickly.
Goaltending: Frederik Andersen (Carolina – rock-solid .967 SV% in the series so far) vs. Linus Ullmark (Ottawa – battling but facing heavy pressure). Andersen’s experience gives Carolina the edge.
Series History
This is the first-ever NHL playoff series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators. In the 2025-26 regular season, Carolina went 2-1 against Ottawa. Historically, the Hurricanes have owned the season-series edge (67-42-13 all-time in regulation). Playoff experience heavily favors Carolina, who reached the Eastern Conference Final as recently as 2024-25, while Ottawa is still gaining its first taste of postseason hockey in years.
Betting Trends
Trends lean Under in Carolina’s defensive-minded playoff games, though Game 2 went to double OT and pushed the total higher.
Other Notes: Carolina is 2-0 SU and ATS in the series. Ottawa has covered the puck line in one game but has yet to win. Public betting has been heavily on the Hurricanes.
Game Odds
Carolina Hurricanes 5.5
Ottawa Senators – 122
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 22, 2026
