Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen completed his sixth-career playoff shutout after putting up 22 saves, 13 shots of which came in the third period alone from the Senators.
The big performance for the Canes followed a puck-drop fight between Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal. From there on, the Canes dominated, outshooting the Senators 29-22 and outhitting them 57-39.
Carolina held the Sens to just five shots on goal in the first period, despite a power play opportunity, before Logan Stankoven scored the first goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs that gave Carolina a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the second.
Ottawa had a chance on their second power play of the game with under five minutes left in the second, then again in the opening minutes of the third, but couldn't capitalize on either.
However, they almost converted at the start of the third period when they were initially given a goal. But after further review, Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen managed to keep it out.
Carolina vet Taylor Hall would put the Canes up 2-0 after a battle in front of the net, putting it out of reach for the Senators the rest of the way.
Stankoven, originally granted the goal, picked up the assist.
Carolina went on a 5-on-3 power play with 7:16 left in the third after Ottawa's Fabian Zetterlund (slashing) and Shane Pinto (high-sticking) both got hit with two-minute minors.
But Ottawa's penalty kill managed to minimize any damage. They had a 6-on-4 opportunity after Carolina's Jalen Chatfield picked up his second penalty of the period, also pulling their goalie, but, once again, like all game, they failed to take advantage.
Teams that went 1-0 to start their series in the first round of last year's playoffs went 6-2. Overall, they go on to win 68% of the time.
Hall, Stankoven, and Andersen all led the way with a game-high 8.5 player rating for the game.