Hemsky helps Senators keep playoff hopes alive

OTTAWA — A week ago it was unthinkable, but the Ottawa Senators are back in playoff contention.

Ales Hemsky scored the only goal of the shootout Monday night as the Senators earned a huge 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Hemsky moved in and fired a shot off the post and into the back of the net behind goaltender Cam Ward to give the Senators their third straight win, and fourth in their past fifth games. They have nine points over that stretch.

As it stands now, the Senators are in 12th in the Eastern Conference four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who currently possess the second wild-card berth with 82 points. The Hurricanes are seven back.

“All I’m doing is going game-by-game still. We won today, now we have to get ready for Wednesday and again we’ll see where we are at [in] 82 games,” said Senators coach Paul MacLean.

Craig Anderson stopped all three Carolina shooters, including Elias Lindholm with the final shot to earn the victory.

Mika Zibanejad scored in regulation for the Senators (32-29-14) while Anderson made 30 saves.

Jeff Skinner had the Carolina goal while Ward backstopped the Hurricanes (32-32-11) through regulation with 28 saves.

Coincidental minor penalties in overtime meant the teams played two minutes of three-on-three hockey. Kyle Turris had the best opportunity for the Senators during that span but his shot went over the net. Alex Semin had Anderson beat on a two-on-one but his backhand went wide. NEWARK, N. J. — Travis Zajac scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds in, and the New Jersey Devils held on for a wild 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night after nearly blowing an early three-goal lead.

Zajac opened the barrage against Dan Ellis and then netted his second of the night midway through New Jersey’s three-goal first period.