The Carolina Hurricanes won their second home game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final with a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the series.
With the crucial Game 5 win at Raleigh’s Lenovo Center, the Hurricanes take a 3-2 lead in the series as it returns to Las Vegas for Game 6 on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
Andrei Svechnikov scored the go-ahead goal on a power-play in the second period, slapping a shot from the left wing past Vegas goaltender Carter Hart. The Hurricanes were on their second consecutive power-play after the Golden Knights killed a roughing penalty on Jeremy Lauzon.
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However, Carolina went right back to the man advantage when Brayden McNabb was whistled for a cross-check on Jackson Blake. Given another power-play opportunity right way, the Hurricanes capitalized.
Nearly six minutes later, Carolina took a 3-1 lead on Sebastian Aho‘s wrist shot from the left circle with just over two minutes remaining in the second period. It was Aho’s first goal of the series.
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A comeback for the Golden Knights became more difficult when center William Karlsson left the game midway through the second period. He appeared to suffer a left arm injury on a hit along the boards from Carolina’s Sean Walker.
The game fell out of reach for Vegas when Mark Stone was called for a high-sticking double-minor penalty. Stone inadvertently got the blade of his stick under the visor of the Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield. Nonetheless, it was a dangerous play that could have caused serious injury and drew an appropriate penalty.
With a four-minute power play to kill, the Golden Knights couldn’t keep Carolina from capitalizing on a key opportunity nearly halfway through the third period.
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The Hurricanes indeed put the game out of reach when Svechnikov scored his second power-play goal of the game. Nikolaj Ehlers found Svechnikov in front of the net after freeing himself up with a slick spin move to set up the score with a pass.
In addition to Svechnikov and Aho, Jordan Staal scored a goal for Carolina, giving the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead.
Vegas cut its deficit to 4-2 with six minutes remaining in the third period on a Pavel Dorofeyev score. The right wing poked in a rebound off a Shea Theodore backhand shot from the left circle.
Running out of time to score two goals for the tie, the Golden Knights pulled goalie Carter Hart for a man advantage. That became a two-man advantage when Ehlers shot the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty.
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With a 6-on-4 power play and two minutes left, Vegas nearly got one more goal. Theodore’s slap shot from the top of the circle hit the crossbar and the rebound fell to Tomas Hertl. He had an open corner of the net, but Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi recovered quickly to block the shot.
Dorofeyev scored both goals for the Golden Knights.
Vegas nearly got a goal on their 6-on-4 advantage. Shea Theodore’s slap shot from the top of the circle hit the crossbar, and Tomas Hertl got the rebound. But Brandon Bussi quickly closed an open corner of the net.
Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots, getting the Game 5 start over Frederik Andersen after his strong Game 4 performance. In a surprising development, Andersen did not dress for the game.
Asked about the decision during an in-game interview, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he wanted to give Andersen as much time off as possible so he would be fresh for the next time he played. However, unless Bussi crumbles in Game 6, it’s difficult to imagine him not being in net for Carolina.
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For the Golden Knights, Carter Hart saved 20 of 24 shots. After the game, Vegas coach John Tortorella was asked if he considered going to backup goalie Adin Hill. Tortorella responded with “That is the stupidest question I have ever heard.”
The Stanley Cup Final gets a two-day break as the series goes back to Las Vegas. The Hurricanes have an opportunity to win the Cup at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday. The Golden Knights must win to force a Game 7 back in Raleigh, N.C.
Follow along with the updates and highlights from Yahoo Sports’ live blog during Game 5 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
Live coverage is over33 updates
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 5:53 PM PDT
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 9:00 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Brandon Bussi, Hurricanes: 23 saves on 25 shots
Andrei Svechnikov, 2 goals
Sebastian Aho, 1 goal
Jordan Staal, 1 goal
Nikolaj Ehlers, 3 assists
Seth Jarvis, 1 assist
Jordan Martinook, 1 assist
Carter Hart, Golden Knights: 20 saves on 24 shots
Pavel Dorofeyev, 2 goals
Jack Eichel, 2 assists
Shea Theodore, 1 assist
Tomas Hertl, 1 assist
Shots on goal: Carolina 24, Vegas 23
Faceoffs won: Carolina 31, Vegas 22
Power plays: Carolina 5, Vegas 3
Hits Carolina 35, Vegas 32
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:59 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Carolina Hurricanes win a crucial Game 5 on their home ice, 4-2. That gives the ‘Canes a 3-2 series lead going into Sunday’s Game 6.
Carolina can win the Stanley Cup at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas nearly got a goal on their power play. Shea Theodore’s slap shot from the top of the circle hit the crossbar, and Tomas Hertl got the rebound. But Brandon Bussi quickly closed an open corner of the net.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:51 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
With just over two minutes remaining, the Golden Knights will be on the power play after Nikolaj Ehlers shoots the puck over the glass to draw a delay of game penalty.
Vegas will have a 6-on-4 advantage, pulling goaltender Carter Hart from the net.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:44 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights aren’t out of this game yet, though time is running out.
Pavel Dorofeyev poked in a rebound off a shot from Shea Theodore to close Vegas to within 4-2. Six minutes remain in the third period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:37 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes had a chance to put this game away with a four-minute power play on a double-minor penalty.
Carolina seized the opportunity with Andrei Svechnikov scoring his second power-play goal of Game 5. Nikolaj Ehlers found Svechnikov in front of the net after a nice spin move freed him up for a pass.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:33 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Mark Stone is called for an accidental, but dangerous high-sticking penalty, getting his blade under the visor of the Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield.
The double-minor gives Carolina a four-minute power play near the midway point of the third period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights successfully killed the Hurricanes’ power play. Carter Hart stopped three shots from Carolina during that two minutes.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas’ Jack Eichel is called for tripping Nikolaj Ehlers, putting Carolina back on the power play with just under three minutes played in the third period.
This will be the Hurricanes’ third power play of Game 5.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:17 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Golden Knights center William Karlsson is out for the remainder of this game, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports.
He left the game midway through the second period with an apparent left wrist injury. While the Golden Knights did not comment on Karlsson leaving the game, he appeared to suffer the injury on a hit by Carolina defenseman Sean Walker.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The home crowd at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh had plenty to cheer about with the Hurricanes taking a 3-1 lead in the second period. Carolina is 20 minutes away from going ahead 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final.
Shots on goal: Carolina 15, Vegas 12
Faceoffs won: Carolina 22, Vegas 12
Power plays: Vegas 2, Carolina 2
Hits Vegas 29, Carolina 24
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:51 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Sebastian Aho wrists a shot from the r circle past Carter Hart to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the second period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:50 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Brett Howden is denied on a Golden Knights’ breakaway by Brandon Bussi. Bussi got the puck away from Howden on a poke check. Jaccob Slavin was also playing Howden tight on defense.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes score on the power play!
Andrei Svechnikov slaps a shot from the left wing past Carter Hart to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes got three shots on goal during their power play, but do not score.
However, Carolina will go right back on the power play after Brayden McNabb is called for cross-checking against Jackson Blake.
McNabb could’ve been called for a cross-check earlier on Taylor Hall.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:37 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas’ Jeremy Lauzon gets whistled for a roughing penalty, pushing Logan Stankoven to the ice with his stick. Carolina will be on the power play for the first time in Game 5.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Staal is the first player to score in each of the first five games of a Stanley Cup Final since 1956, according to TNT researcher Chris Jastrzembski.
The last to do so was Jean Beliveau with the Montreal Canadiens.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:25 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights can’t capitalize on beginning the second period with a man advantage, though. Carolina defensemen blocked two shots without Brandon Bussin having to make a save.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:20 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Staal wins the face-off from Vegas’ Jack Eichel to open the second period for Carolina.
Vegas begins on the power play
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas will begin the second period on the power play with Carolina getting whistled for its second delay of game penalty of the game. K’Andre Miller hit the puck over the glass with six seconds remaining in the first period.