Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was playing with a heavy heart in Game 5 after the death of his agent, four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux.
Andersen came up with one of his better efforts of the Eastern Conference finals, stopping 23 shots in a 6-1 win that sent the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. It’s also Andersen’s first trip.
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“I can’t talk enough good things about this team and the way they’ve supported me,” he told TNT. “It’s been awesome.”
Lemieux died at 60 on Thursday, three days after he took part in the Canadiens’ torch-bearing ceremony before Game 3 at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux’s NHL career was marked by playoff performances and key moments across multiple teams.
See the moments that trace Lemieux’s path through a long career on the ice, including his role in defining games.
Above, Goaltender Mike Richter of the USA stops Claude Lemieux of Canada on a breakaway in the third period the World Cup of Hockey at Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1996. Richter made 35 saves in the game and was voted the tournament’s MVP.
(Glenn Cratty, Getty Images)
1 / 25
Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux’s NHL career was marked by playoff performances and key moments across multiple teams.
See the moments that trace Lemieux’s path through a long career on the ice, including his role in defining games.
Above, Goaltender Mike Richter of the USA stops Claude Lemieux of Canada on a breakaway in the third period the World Cup of Hockey at Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1996. Richter made 35 saves in the game and was voted the tournament’s MVP.
(Glenn Cratty, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of Canada and Keith Tkachuk of the USA go at each other after a fight broke out 20 seconds into the first period of the USA- Canada World Cup of Ice Hockey at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia. USA defeated Canada.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Devils won the game 4-1.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Rightwinger Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the McNichols Sports Arena in 1997 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche lost to the Kings 4-2.
(Nevin Reid, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils in 1997.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck during the game against the Nashville Predators at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 3-1.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Boston Bruins at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1997.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux, left wing Waleri Kamensky of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate during a playoff game against the Detroit Red wings at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Red wings won the game 4-2.
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado in 1998. The Flames won the game 3-1.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York in 1998. The teams won the game 2-2.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils skates on the ice during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1999. The Devils defeated the Flyers 2-1.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right winger Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils takes a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period of Game 1 of their NHL semi-final game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2000. The Maple Leafs won the game 2-1.
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with the Stanley Cup Trophy as he skates around the rink after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils and Scott Gomez celebrate with the Stanley Cup Trophy after winning the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals game against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena on June 10, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux #22 of the Phoenix Coyotes waits for the puck during the NHL game against the Torono Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada in 2001. The Leafs defeated the Coyotes 6-3.
(Dave Sandford, Getty Images/NHLI)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Phoenix Coyotes pins right wing Ryan VandenBussche of the Chicago Blackhawks against the boards during NHL action at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois in 2002.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Dallas Stars poses for a portrait on September 15, 2003, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
(Getty Images, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up before playing the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 15, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Sharks 6-5.
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks warms up against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the Anaheim Ducks during Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 21, 2009, in Anaheim, California.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Former Monreal Canadien Claude Lemieux skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies prior to the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins on December 4, 2009, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Bruins 5-1.
(Richard Wolowicz, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Former New Jersey Devils player Claude Lemieux is introduced during a ceremony honoring the 1995 Stanley Cup Championship team before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers on March 8, 2015, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
The 1995 New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup championship team is honored before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center.
(Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Cammi Granato of the USA Legends celebrates her goal with Claude Lemieux #22 of the Canada Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Remembering Claude Lemieux’s NHL career in photos
Claude Lemieux of the Canada Legends enjoys a goal against of the USA Legends at the Legends Classic Hockey Game at the Air Canada Centre on November 7, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
Though Lemieux identified with the Canadiens as the team that drafted him and where he won his first Stanley Cup as a rookie, he had ties with the Hurricanes. In addition to having Andersen as a client, his son Brendan played for Carolina during the 2023-24 season. The Hurricanes paid tribute to Claude Lemieux before Friday’s game.
Asked what Lemieux would say if he were still here, Andersen told TNT that his agent would tell him, “Just go get it.”
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“He’s the ultimate competitor and he’s got the biggest heart,” the goalie said. “He wanted so much for me and this team.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Frederik Andersen wins clinching Game 5 while mourning Claude Lemieux
