Matt Carkner Matthew Carkner ( born November 3 , 1980 ) is a Canadian is a professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He has previously played in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks , but spent the majority of his professional career in the American Hockey League ( AHL ) before signing with the Senators in 2007 . Playing career . Peterborough Petes . Carkner joined the Peterborough Petes of the OHL in 1997 - 98 , where as a rookie , he earned six assists in 57 games with the team . Carkner then appeared in four playoff games , however , he did not register a point . He improved his offensive production in the 1998 - 99 , scoring two goals and 18 points in 60 games for the Petes . In five playoff games , Carkner had no points , and 20 penalty minutes . Carkner earned the Eastern Conference Most Improved Player award for the season . In 1999 - 2000 , Carkner scored three goals and 16 points in 62 games with Peterborough , followed by five playoff games , in which Carkner would have an assist . In his fourth and final season with the club in 2000 - 01 , Carkner had a career high eight goals , as he earned 16 points in 53 games . Carkner then added three assists in seven post - season games . He finished his OHL career with 13 goals , 56 points and 599 penalty minutes in 232 games . San Jose Sharks . Carkner was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens with the 58th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft , however , he never signed with the team , and ultimately signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent on June 6 , 2001 . In his first professional season in 2001 - 02 , the Sharks assigned Carkner to the Cleveland Barons of the AHL . In 74 games , Carkner had three assists , and 335 penalty minutes . Carkner returned to Cleveland for the 2002 - 03 season , however , he appeared in only 39 games , scoring a goal and five points , as well as 104 penalty minutes . Carkner suffered a knee injury in a game against the Utah Grizzlies on January 2 , 2003 , causing him to miss the remainder of the season . He came back with the Barons in 2003 - 04 , scoring two goals and 13 points in 60 games , helping Cleveland make the playoffs . In nine post - season games , Carkner had three assists and 39 penalty minutes . With the 2004 - 05 NHL lockout wiping out the NHL season , Carkner remained with the Barons . In 73 games with Cleveland in 2004 - 05 , Carkner had 10 assists and 192 penalty minutes . Carkner saw his offensive numbers explode during the 2005 - 06 season with the Barons , as he scored 10 goals and 31 points in 69 games , as well as 202 penalty minutes . Carkner also made his NHL debut with the Sharks in 2005 - 06 , as he appeared in one game , recording an assist in six minutes of ice time on February 6 , 2006 in a 4 - 3 loss to the Calgary Flames . Carkner became a free agent at the end of the season , and on July 23 , 2006 , he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins . Pittsburgh Penguins . Carkner spent the entire 2006 - 07 season with the Penguins AHL affiliate , the Wilkes - Barre / Scranton Penguins . In 75 games with the team , Carkner had six goals and 30 points , as well as 167 penalty minutes . In eight playoff games , Carkner had a goal and 19 penalty minutes . After just one season with the Penguins , Carkner left as a free agent , as on July 3 , 2007 , he signed with his hometown Ottawa Senators . Ottawa Senators . Carkner spent the entire 2007 - 08 with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL , where he played in 67 games , scoring 10 goals and 25 points , as well as 218 penalty minutes . He returned to Binghamton for the 2008 - 09 season , scoring three goals and 21 points in 67 games , while earning 210 penalty minutes . Carkner also appeared in one game with the Ottawa Senators , as he had no points in a 6 - 4 loss to the Boston Bruins on January 8 , 2009 . On September 29 , 2009 , Ottawa announced the Carkner had made the team ' s roster , as he spent the entire 2009 - 10 in the NHL . In 81 games , Carkner had two goals , 11 points , and 190 penalty minutes , helping Ottawa reach the playoffs . Carkner scored his first NHL goal three games into the season , as he scored on the New York Islanders goaltender Martin Biron in the second period of a 3 - 2 Senators victory . In the playoffs , Carkner had a memorable triple - overtime goal in game five of the Eastern Conference quarter - finals against Marc - Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins in game five of their series . The Penguins won the series in six games , and that was the only point Carkner earned while appearing in all six games . Carkner appeared in 50 games with Ottawa in the 2010 - 11 season , scoring a goal and seven points , as well as earning 136 penalty minutes . Personal . Before signing his first one - way deal with the Senators , Carkner resided in Westport , Ontario ( just under 2 hours from Ottawa ) with his wife Kary , and their two children . Carkner is a third cousin of former NHL defenceman Terry Carkner . His father Dennis owns and operates D ' s Collision Centre in Winchester , Ontario .