Svechnikov, Aho strike as Canes on cusp of title
Key takeaways
- 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.
- 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.
- That gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Andrei Svechnikov scored twice and Sebastian Aho added a second-period goal in a breakout game for Carolina's top-line performers, helping the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Thursday night to move within a victory of winning the Stanley Cup.
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 postseason 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 multigoal 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 postseason start.