Martinook Redeems Himself in Double OT as Canes Take 2-0 Series Lead
He missed a rare overtime penalty shot, then scored the series winner 14 minutes into double overtime. Jordan Martinook's Game 2 had everything.
If you write sports for a living, Game 2 between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators was the kind of game that writes itself.
Jordan Martinook missed a rare overtime penalty shot — only the fifth in Stanley Cup playoff history — and then scored the winning goal himself 14 minutes into the second overtime. The Hurricanes won 3-2 and now lead their first-round series 2-0.
Redemption arcs hit different in the playoffs. Martinook's Game 2 is the kind of story that gets referenced for years.
The Play That Made It Memorable
Let's talk about that penalty shot.
In NHL playoff history, five times a player has been awarded an overtime penalty shot. Zero have converted. Martinook stepped up in that pressure cooker moment — everyone in the building knew what was at stake — and he joined the 0-for-5 club.
What makes this story great is what happened after. He didn't hide. He didn't deflate. He kept going to the net. And at 13:53 of the second overtime, he buried the winner.
His quote afterward was perfect: "You're just trying to put as many pucks on net as you can." No drama, no self-pity. Just hockey player logic.
The Goal That Almost Wasn't
The game nearly ended earlier when Mark Jankowski scored what looked like a Hurricanes winner — except it was overturned on video review. Officials determined Carolina entered the zone without proper puck control, and 29 seconds of celebrating was erased.
Under NHL rules, even when a goal gets reversed, the penalty that triggered the opportunity still has to be served. Ottawa had to kill a penalty immediately after video review bailed them out — that's the kind of brutal momentum swing that tests a team's character.
The Senators held. They played tough. They just ran out of overtime.
Linus Ullmark's Night
Worth acknowledging: Ottawa's goaltender made 43 saves in a game Carolina won. Ullmark was outstanding. The Senators were in this until the final horn of double overtime. This series isn't over — but Carolina's defensive structure and depth have them firmly in control heading to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4.
The Bottom Line
Jordan Martinook had the kind of game most players never experience — an overtime penalty shot miss, then the series-leading goal two periods later. That's playoff hockey at its best. The Canes look sharp, and this series has the ingredients for a memorable first round even if Carolina closes it out quickly.