In a big game for their playoff push, the Carolina Hurricanes could not quite get it done Thursday night, falling 4-2 to the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa.

Lady luck was not on the side of the Hurricanes (26-22-10), as starter Eddie Lack would certainly like a do-over on one goal, and the game-winner for the Senators (27-26-6) in the third period deflected in off a Hurricane.

Ottawa had the early edge, getting a lot of pressure in the Canes zone. The Senators took advantage about halfway through the first period, as forward Alex Chiasson snapped one past Lack from between the faceoff circles for a 1-0 Senators lead.

The teams traded power plays over the period’s last 10 minutes, but neither was able to find the back of the net.

The Canes were able to get their game going as the period wore on, and capitalized late as forward Jordan Staal tipped a low shot past Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson to tie the game at one with just 23 seconds left in the period. Getting the late period goal to tie it was important, as the Canes are 0-14-0 on the season when trailing after the first period.

The Canes got a nice chance to take the lead early in the second as forward Phil Di Giuseppe, who was penalized at the end of the first, was sprung out of the penalty box on a breakaway, but Anderson made a sharp save.

Ottawa regained its lead about six minutes into the second on a goal Lack would probably like to have back, as Senators forward Zack Smith’s shot from the left circle appeared to be trapped between the Swedish netminder’s glove and body, but squeezed through for a 2-1 Senators lead.

The Sens nearly made it 3-1 about 11 minutes into the middle frame, but forward Mike Hoffman’s shot rang off the crossbar to keep it at a one goal deficit for Carolina.

The Canes continued to mount pressure throughout the period, and capitalized on a power play with under 2 minutes left in the period. Forward Riley Nash sniped a shot past Anderson for his third goal in three games to tie it at two.

Ottawa took its third one-goal lead 3:50 into the third as defenseman Cody Ceci’s slapshot from the point deflected off a Hurricane stick and in for a 3-2 lead.

The Canes tried hard to get the equalizer late, but could not get a third puck past Anderson. Carolina head coach Bill Peters pulled Lack with 2:49 to go for an extra attacker. The team was not able to tie the game however, and Senators forward Mark Stone put one into the empty net with one second left to seal the 4-2 win.

The Canes will have a quick turnaround, as they are back in action tomorrow night against the San Jose Sharks at PNC Arena.