Will this be the final game of the 2025-26 NHL season with the Carolina Hurricanes closing out their championship run in Game 6 or will the Vegas Golden Knights force a Wednesday night Game 7?
The theme of Game 5 was double trouble as both teams got their power play going. Vegas got on the board first from Pavel Dorofeyev but Carolina stormed back. Captain Jordan Staal scored to tie the game for Carolina, which extended his goal streak to five games. It was all Carolina from then on with Andrei Svechnikov scoring two on the power play with a Sebastian Aho tally sandwiched in between. Dorofeyev tried to spark another Vegas comeback but Brandon Bussi held the fort down and Carolina walked away with a 4-2 win, one victory away from hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are suddenly in an adverse position down 3-2 to Carolina and facing elimination. A concern almost as great as standing on the brink of elimination as they hope to extend the series to a Game 7 is the health of an important player in their lineup, center William Karlsson. He left the previous game after an awkward hit to the upper body and now the Swede has been ruled out for tonight’s contest and likely Game 7 if it gets to that. Hints are pointing to Reilly Smith drawing into the lineup instead.
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Another concern for Vegas is that their goaltending is experiencing another valley. John Tortorella affirmed his belief snd commitment to his netminder Cater Hart but after giving up at least four goals in each game this series, Vegas needs a better outing from him if they are going to make a comeback to take the Stanley Cup.
Projected Lineup
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — Reilly Smith – Mitch Marner
Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons — Mark Stone
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Dylan Coghlan — Jeremy Lauzon
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Carter Hart
Adin Hill
Carolina Hurricanes
Speaking of goaltending, Carolina is riding the wave of random themselves, hoping Brandon Bussi has one more solid performance in him to get the Hurricanes across the finish line.
Now that Carolina is in the driver’s seat to close out the Stanley Cup victory, discussion has turned to the likely Hurricane to win the Conn Smythe. Captain Jordan Staal has the best case especially with his five-goal streak in this series.
Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov — Sebastian Aho — Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall — Logan Stankoven — Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers — Jordan Staal — Jordan Martinook
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William Carrier — Mark Jankowski — Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin — Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller — Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere — Alexander Nikishin
Brandon Bussi
Pyotr Kochetkov
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