OTTAWA, April 1 (UPI) -- Alex Kovalev and Jason Spezza scored shootout goals Thursday that gave the Ottawa Senators a 4-3 win over Carolina and a spot in the playoffs.
The Senators returned to the playoffs after missing out in 2009 for only the second time in 13 seasons.
Ottawa became the fifth team in the Eastern Conference to wrap up a post-season berth and has 91 points, three behind fourth-place New Jersey.
Brian Elliott was perfect in the shootout after stopping 28-of-31 shots in regulation and overtime. The Senators got into the overtime when Erik Karlsson scored his second goal of the contest with just 8 seconds remaining in the third period.
Brandon Sutter, Jamie McBain and Chad Larose each had a goal for the Hurricanes, who had won three of their previous four. Manny Legace made 32 saves.
