2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: 5 Takeaways From Hurricanes-Golden Knights Game 5
Bleacher Report • • sports
Key Points:
- The Carolina Hurricanes took a 3-2 lead in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5, gaining a crucial advantage in the best-of-three series.
- Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi made history as the first goaltender to win his first two career playoff starts in the Stanley Cup Final, delivering a strong performance with a .920 save percentage.
- Jordan Staal extended his goal streak to five games, tying an NHL record for the longest streak to open a Stanley Cup Final and becoming a key offensive contributor for Carolina.
- The Hurricanes significantly improved their second-period play in Game 5, outscoring Vegas 2-0 in that period and avoiding the second-period collapses that had plagued them earlier in the series.
- Stars Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov stepped up with important goals, with Svechnikov scoring twice on the power play and Aho netting his first goal of the series, helping the Hurricanes secure their first series lead.