2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: 5 Takeaways From Hurricanes-Golden Knights Game 5

RALEIGH — The stakes were unbelievably high Thursday night in Raleigh, as a 2-2 Stanley Cup Final morphed into a best-of-three series.

When a Cup Final is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner goes on to win it all nearly 75 percent of the time (20-7; .741), including a 15-3 record when the home team pulls ahead. 

The home team did just that, as the Hurricanes put together their first decent second period of the series and hung on for the 4-2 win over the Golden Knights. The 'Canes took their first series lead (3-2) with the win and head back to Vegas with the opportunity to hoist the Cup in Game 6 on Sunday.

Game 5 was also the calmest game of an otherwise stranger-than-fiction Cup Final thus far. Have the Hurricanes won that mental war, as they have Vegas on the brink of elimination? Has Brandon Bussi fully won the Hurricanes' net—and the hearts of 'Canes fans everywhere? How did the Golden Knights run out of juice?

Here are five takeaways from Game 5 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Brandon Bussi Rises to the Occasion Again

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With his second win in his second straight start, Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi became the first goaltender in League history to make his first two career playoff starts in the Final and win both.

"He's been like this the whole season; even when he hasn't played, we are very confident in our goalies and the way they've been playing the whole year," Nikolaj Ehlers said postgame. "To come in like Bussi did after not playing for two months and be as calm as he is, make the saves he has, has been incredible. Of course that gives our team confidence."

Bussi's performance in net in Game 5 was the strongest of any goaltender for a full 60 minutes in any game in this Cup final. He ended with two goals against and a .920 save percentage. The team has continued to play its best defense in front of him, coincidence or not.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the ice, Carter Hart became the first goaltender in Cup Final history to allow 4+ goals in each of the first five games, after becoming the first goaltender in Cup Final history to allow 4+ goals in each of the first four games.

When asked if he was considering a goaltending change in the third period, Vegas head coach John Tortorella said, "Oh for Christ, that could be the stupidest question I've heard."

Jordan Staal Can't Stop Scoring

Staal's latest goal—a net-front equalizer to make it 1-1 for the Hurricanes in the first—made him the fifth player in NHL history (and the first in 53 years) to record a goal streak of five or more games at any point in a Stanley Cup Final. His five-game goal streak ties the NHL record for the longest to open a Cup Final in NHL history.

"It's massive, it's massive, right?" head coach Rod Brind'Amour said postgame. "We're not necessarily expecting him to put up those kinds of numbers, and when he does, it's an added bonus. He deserves it, he's playing great."

With at least one game remaining in the Final, Staal is now two goals shy of tying the most by any player at age 37 or older in a single postseason: Corey Perry (10 in 2025) and Brett Hull (10 in 2002). With the way Staal has dominated Vegas in front of the net, he very well may add this accolade to his growing list of accomplishments in this Cup Final.

"The playoffs, until you've done it, been through it, and actually lived it, (you don't know how much of a grind it is)," Brind'Amour said. "...To do that at his age just says a lot about him. He's our guy, and he's our warrior, and I'm just really happy for him."

Hurricanes Flip the Script in 2nd Period

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The main reason Game 5 felt so much calmer than the rest? Well, the Hurricanes didn't completely implode in the second period for once, so they didn't need to put together a herculean comeback attempt in the third.

"Our second periods up until tonight have been, uh, not good," Ehlers said, laughing, postgame. "That was the closest to a full 60 we've played in the last five games, but we also have to realize how we need to play to give ourselves a chance."

Leading up to Game 5, the Golden Knights outscored the 'Canes 9-1 in second periods. In Game 5, they outscored Vegas 2-0 in the second. All they had to do was simply not allow an onslaught of Golden Knights goals to improve upon the first four games, but the 'Canes played their most Hurricanes-esque period of the series.

"I get it, [our second periods] haven't looked great, and it's how it's gone—that's for sure," Brind'Amour said. "We don't really talk about it like that. There are certain segments of the game you need to be better at. We needed to improve on that during second periods, but the game itself, we just have to keep playing the right way. We did that [Thursday] in the second and third periods."

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Final, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov

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Leave it to the Hurricanes stars desperate for more real estate on the score sheet to finally reverse Carolina's second-period curse.

Andrei Svechnikov gave the 'Canes what would be their game-winner on the power play in the second period. It was his second goal of the series, and now it's the biggest goal of his life. You could tell it was a weight off of his shoulders, so he added a second tally on another power play in the third just for funsies.

"I mean, this is the biggest win of my life," Svechnikov said. "Thank God we won that game."

Then came Aho, who has points in four straight games (including a beautiful and crucial assist on the Game 4 winner), but had yet to score a goal in the series. His first goal in six games came with less than three minutes into the second period, to give the Hurricanes a sturdier-than-usual feeling 3-1 lead headed into the third period.

"It certainly makes it a lot smoother if they are scoring," Brind'Amour said. "It takes pressure off of the other guys."

Vegas Faces the Brink in Game 6, But Torts Isn't Quitting

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Vegas' first time trailing in the series is also an elimination situation as they prepare to fight for their Cup Final lives at home on Sunday.

Tortorella is at least confident there will be a game seven.

"We will be back (in this building)," he said postgame. I'm going to leave my clothes here. They will be at the hotel."

If they are to be back, Hart's going to have to be a heck of a lot better in net- or, at the very least, he's going to have to not allow 4+ goals just once.

Meanwhile, Jack Eichel in particular is going to have to step up on the offensive side of things if the Golden Knights are to survive Game 6. He did have two assists in Game 4, but has yet to record a goal in the series.