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Ruutu nets OT winner as Hurricanes nip Senators

Dec 24, 2011 - 3:50 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Tuomo Ruutu scored an overtime goal 1:36 in, pushing the Carolina Hurricanes past the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, on Friday.

Andreas Nodl also scored, while Cam Ward made 22 saves for the Hurricanes, who halted a two-game skid and recorded their first overtime win of the season.

Filip Kuba had a goal and Craig Anderson made 36 saves in the hard-luck loss, as the Senators saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

"Craig was outstanding," said Ottawa coach Paul MacLean. "It would've been nice to have the win, but when we look back at this it's gonna be a pretty big point."

Both Ward and Anderson allowed a first-period goal before settling into a netminders' duel. Ward made 15 saves over the second and third periods, while Anderson stopped 17 shots, as the goalies pushed the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Jay Harrison's slap shot off a Jussi Jokinen drop pass was deflected into the net by Ruutu, marking the deciding tally.

"It was a great shot, just the right height," said Ruutu. "Sometimes you hit it and sometimes you miss it. Tonight it went in so I'm happy about it."

Just 2:33 into regulation, Nodl's centering feed deflected off of Senators defenseman Matt Carkner and into the net, giving the Hurricanes a 1-0 advantage. It marked Nodl's second goal in as many games.

Kuba tied the contest and notched his 300th career NHL point with a bad-angle wrister, which worked its way through Ward's pads, with 2:45 left in the opening period.

Game Notes

This was the third of four meetings between the teams this season. Ottawa won the two previous matchups...Ruutu has a four-game point streak...The Hurricanes claimed Nodl off waivers from the Flyers on November 29.