Hurricanes 1, Senators 0: Dan Ellis stopped 33 shots for his 13th career shutout and first in more than two years as host Carolina held off Ottawa.

Ellis made 12 saves in the first period, 13 in the second and eight in the third en route to his second win in as many starts this season.

Captain Eric Staal scored with 4:15 remaining in the first period, driving to the net and tipping a shot by Alexander Semin over the glove of Craig Anderson, who finished with 34 saves.

Ellis earned his last shutout on Nov. 9, 2010 as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, stopping 28 shots versus Toronto. Against Ottawa, Ellis turned aside four shots apiece from Chris Neil, Milan Michalek and reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.

Staal, who scored his fifth goal of the season, is on a four-game point streak after going scoreless in his first two contests.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Semin led all skaters with five shots on goal and has 25 this season. … Ottawa won 44 percent of the faceoffs, feeling the absence of C Jason Spezza, who will miss an extended period of time after undergoing back surgery. … The Hurricanes defeated the Senators for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings in Carolina.