Kovalev has hat trick, scores 400th goal in Senators’ win over Hurricanes

Kovalev has hat trick, scores 400th goal

OTTAWA — Alex Kovalev scored three times, including the 400th of his career, to help the Ottawa Senators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Saturday night.

With the score tied 2-2 late in the third, Kovalev took a shot on an Ottawa power play that deflected off the skate of Hurricanes defenceman Jay Harrison and past Manny Legace. Kovalev added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Jason Spezza also scored for the Senators, and Brian Elliott made 23 saves. Ray Whitney scored twice for the Hurricanes, and Legace stopped 33 shots.

Whitney sandwiched his ninth and 10th goals around Spezza’s fourth of the campaign in the second period, as the teams headed to the third tied 2-2.

Whitney’s first goal came on the power play. His point shot eluded Elliott along the ice and tied it at 1.

Spezza responded with the Senators’ first power-play goal in 17 opportunities. He banked a shot off Legace from behind the net with the netminder out of position midway through the period to give the Senators their second one-goal lead.

Whitney was in the right place at the right time for his second of the game as the puck bounced to him in the slot. Elliot stopped Eric Staal’s sharp-angle shot, but Whitney beat him on the rebound.

Kovalev had the only goal of the first period, redirecting Nick Foligno’s pass behind Legace.

NOTES: Kovalev has 958 points in 1,179 career games. … The Senators lead the NHL with four short-handed goals at home.