The Carolina Hurricanes took a commanding 3-2 series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights, surviving a late surge to win Game 5 and stand one victory away from the Stanley Cup.
Vegas struck first on a power play goal by Pavel Dorofeyev, assisted by Jack Eichel. However, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal quickly answered, extending his scoring streak to five games and tying a Stanley Cup Final record.
Carolina seized control in the second period, capitalizing on back-to-back penalties by Vegas. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice, including a crucial power-play goal that extended the lead to 4-1. The Hurricanes' defense held firm despite a late push from Vegas, which pulled its goalie for an extra attacker in the final minutes.
Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made key saves down the stretch, preserving the 4-2 victory. Carolina now shifts back to Las Vegas for Game 6, where they can clinch their second franchise championship.