Key facts
- Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
- Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals, his first multi-goal game of the playoffs.
- Sebastian Aho scored his second goal of the postseason, breaking a scoring drought.
- The Hurricanes now lead the series 3-2 and can win the Stanley Cup in Game 6.
- Coach Rod Brind’Amour had expressed a need for increased scoring from his top forwards.
Carolina Hurricanes forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho delivered crucial goals in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, leading their team to a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and putting the Hurricanes within one win of the championship.
Svechnikov scored twice on power plays, marking his first multi-goal performance of the playoffs. Aho added his second goal since April, a timely contribution that eased pressure on the team's top earners. Coach Rod Brind’Amour had repeatedly emphasized the need for more offensive production from his star forwards throughout the postseason.
The game was tied 1-1 before Svechnikov and Aho scored in the second period. Svechnikov's second goal, assisted by Nikolaj Ehlers, extended Carolina's lead to 4-1. The Hurricanes aim to clinch their first Stanley Cup since 2006 in Game 6 on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Despite the pressure, Svechnikov expressed confidence, stating, "It is the biggest game. It was for me." Aho and Svechnikov had each scored only four goals through 17 postseason games entering Thursday, with five teammates having more. Brind’Amour acknowledged that while their overall play had been strong, scoring certainly makes the path smoother.