By Canadian Press

Ottawa Senators hold on for another close win, beat Carolina Hurricanes 2-1

Nov 26, 2016 | 6:00 PM

OTTAWA — Giving up the first goal isn’t the best game plan, but so far it doesn’t seem to be an issue for the Ottawa Senators.

Ottawa gave up the first goal for the 11th straight game, but rallied to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Saturday night.

“I don’t know how many games it is that we’ve given up the first goal and it makes absolutely no difference to us,” said Senators coach Guy Boucher. “We expect tight games, we’re going to be good in tight games and I know it was an issue last year, but I wasn’t here, but I know as a team there were things to change and that was one of them.

“It’s a mental approach and players have really grown. There’s no panic on the bench, there’s no panic when the other team scores first, no panic if we take a penalty or we miss some chances.”

Tied 1-1 late in the third Kyle Turris, with his team-leading tenth goal, scored what proved to be the winner as he beat Cam Ward high stick side.

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Dion Phaneuf also scored for the Senators (13-7-1), who have won three straight. Craig Anderson, making his fourth straight start, made 32 saves.

Sebastian Aho scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes (8-8-4), who wrapped up their three-game road trip with a 1-2-0 record. Cam Ward made 22 saves.

Both teams had a number of chances in the third period, but Anderson and Ward were solid, giving the 18,042 at Canadian Tire Centre plenty to get excited about.

Turris scored the winner on a play that started with a great pass from Erik Karlsson in the Senators’ end and finished with Turris squeezing through a couple players and get a good shot off.

The Hurricanes challenged the goal believing it was offside and, although it was close, the goal stood.

“The effort was good,” said Carolina head coach Bill Peters. “You can’t fault the effort. It’s not frustrating. It’s reality. They won 2-1 so we have to find a way to score. You have to get to three in this league, typically. Three is the number. We didn’t do that in either of our last two games. We have to find a way to score more.”

The Senators are now 9-1-1 in one-goal games and showing a growing sense of confidence in its play.

“I think we believe in the way that we play,” said Phaneuf. “When we play that way we don’t give up a lot and when you don’t give up a lot you’re going to be in a lot of tight games. We found a way to stick around, found a way to come back and found a way to play tight games and the bottom line is we continue to stick with our game and again (Saturday) we come through with winning it late and they’re big points. It might be early, but they’re big points.”

Phaneuf tied the game 1-1 at 6:15 of the second with his second goal of the season. Strangely enough Phaneuf’s first goal of the season was against Carolina earlier this month.

Ryan Dzingel did some great work, was patient and found Phaneuf who stepped into the slot and buried it past Ward.

After a slow start to the game the Senators finished the period strong, but trailed 1-0.

Carolina opened the scoring at 11:24 of the first as Aho put a shot on goal and while Anderson made the stop, the rebound went in off Ottawa’s Tom Pyatt.

Saturday’s game marked Erik Karlsson’s 500th NHL game, all played with Ottawa.

Both teams have quick turnarounds as the Senators take on the New York Rangers on Sunday night, while the Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers.

Notes: Senators D Fredrik Claesson was a healthy scratch. Carolina D Klas Dahlbeck, D Ryan Murphy and LW Brock McGinn were a healthy scratch. G Eddie Lack remains sidelined with a concussion.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press