One more win and the Carolina Hurricanes will be crowned Stanley Cup champions.
Andrei Svechnikov scored twice and Sebastian Aho added a second-period goal in a breakout game for Carolina's top-line performers, as the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Raleigh.
They lead the series 3-2 after Thursday night's victory.
IT IS LOUD IN RALEIGH!! 🔊 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pSVSJUlBnl
— NHL (@NHL) June 12, 2026
Captain Jordan Staal added his fifth goal in the series on a night when Carolina overcame multiple hiccups from these playoffs, from a shaky power play to being outplayed in the second period of this series.
And there had been the waiting game for Aho and Svechnikov - two roster mainstays in an eight-year post-season run - to find a better offensive groove.
It all came together in Game 5, with Svechnikov's short putaway at the post on the power play giving Carolina a 4-1 lead midway through the third period.
And unlike most multi-goal leads in what has been a wild and thrilling series, this one held up, with Brandon Bussi finishing with 22 saves in his second career post-season start.
IN BUSSI WE TRUSSI 🚌 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/CYhAQBHw8F
— NHL (@NHL) June 12, 2026
That gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Sunday night in Las Vegas, with the Hurricanes playing for the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time since coach Rod Brind'Amour captained them to the title in 2006.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice for Vegas, finding the net for the first time since Game 1 of the Western Conference Final sweep of Presidents' Trophy winner Colorado.
Carter Hart entered this one as the first goaltender in Stanley Cup Final history to give up at least four goals in each of the first four games, then did it again to continue a difficult series while finishing with 20 saves.
Vegas had twice before been in a 2-2 series in these playoffs, in the first round against Utah and the second round against Anahaim. Both times, the Golden Knights won Game 5 and then closed out the series in Game 6.
This time, they'll have to win on home ice to force the series back to Carolina for a Game 7 on Wednesday night.
And they'll have to take two in a row against a Hurricanes team that hasn't suffered consecutive losses since mid-January.
