The Carolina Hurricanes moved one win away from the Stanley Cup after a dominant performance by their top line powered them to a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 on Thursday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes now hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and will have a chance to clinch the second championship in franchise history in Game 6 on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Svechnikov leads the charge
Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals, while Sebastian Aho also found the back of the net for the Hurricanes. Nikolaj Ehlers recorded three assists, Shayne Gostisbehere added two, and goaltender Brandon Bussi made 22 saves in his second consecutive start. The Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals after falling behind early.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice for the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel contributed two assists, and Carter Hart stopped 20 shots. Vegas has now lost two straight games after taking a 2-1 series lead.
Early action
Vegas capitalized on the first power play of the game when Ehlers sent the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty. Eichel drove through the right circle and centered a pass to an unmarked Dorofeyev, who chipped the puck into the net from close range for a 1-0 lead at 6:52 of the first period.
Jordan Staal tied the game at 1-1 at 11:46 of the first, redirecting a shot pass from Ehlers over Hart's left pad. Staal has now scored in the first five games of the Stanley Cup final, becoming the first player to do so since Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau in 1956 with the Montreal Canadiens.
Second-period surge
After killing a roughing penalty on Jeremy Lauzon, Carolina went back on the power play following a cross-checking penalty on Brayden McNabb. Svechnikov received a pass from Gostisbehere above the right circle, spun, and fired the puck into the far side of the net to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 11:58 of the second period.
Aho extended the lead to 3-1 at 17:51, using his skate to stop a diagonal pass from Sean Walker at the bottom of the left circle before firing the puck over Hart's right shoulder.
Third-period insurance
Mark Stone was called for a double-minor high-sticking penalty on Jalen Chatfield at 8:38 of the third period. Svechnikov scored his second goal of the night on the ensuing power play off a feed from Ehlers to make it 4-1 at 11:08.
Dorofeyev scored his second goal of the game on a rebound in the crease to pull Vegas within 4-2 at 13:49. Ehlers sent the puck over the glass for another delay-of-game penalty with 2:13 remaining, and Vegas pulled Hart for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Carolina held on.
Vegas forward William Karlsson left the game with an apparent left arm injury midway through the second period and did not return.
