Preview: SCF, Game 5 vs. Vegas

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes seek their first lead of the series as they return to home ice for Game 5 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

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When: Thursday, June 11

Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC; Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports | Watch Parties

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Series: Tied 2-2

The Series So Far...

• Game 1: Nikolaj Ehlers got the Canes off to a flying start, but Tomas Hertl's late go-ahead goal gave the Golden Knights the first win of the Final.
• Game 2: Seth Jarvis played hero in overtime to cap off a multi-goal comeback and even the series with a 4-3 victory.
• Game 3: Carolina became just the second team in Stanley Cup Final history to crawl out of a 4-0 hole, but Vegas ultimately took the contest 5-4 in double overtime.
• Game 4: Jordan Staal scored twice, and Brandon Bussi impressed as the Canes picked up another series-splitting win at T-Mobile Arena, 5-3.

It's Staal Good...

• Jordan Staal continues to "do it all" for the Canes, scoring twice on Tuesday to become the fourth player in the NHL's expansion era (since 1968) to score in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final.
• Staal's five goals are tied for the fifth-most through the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final in NHL history, trailing only a handful of legends: Mike Bossy (7), Wayne Gretzky (6), Johnny Bucyk (6) and Jean Béliveau (6).
• Should he add to that with another marker this evening, he'll match the longest goal-scoring streak (5 games) in franchise playoff history, set earlier this year by Logan Stankoven.

Action Jackson...

• Perhaps flying under the radar somewhat, Jackson Blake moved into a tie with Taylor Hall for the team lead in points this postseason (18 apiece) with a goal and an assist in Game 4.
• The 22-year-old was held off the scoresheet and went -2 across the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, but responded with an even plus-minus and three total points during the two tilts in Vegas.
• Both Blake and Hall sit one point shy of surpassing several former Hurricanes for the third-most points in a playoff run in franchise history. The only two with more are Eric Staal (28) and Cory Stillman (26), both recorded in 2006.

In Net...

• Rod Brind'Amour kept his starter a secret ahead of Game 4 and seems to be following the same playbook before tonight's tilt. The Canes are scheduled to skate at 10:30 a.m., which may reveal more about the team's intentions between the pipes.
• Brandon Bussi turned in a "phenomenal" 18-save effort in his first career playoff start on Tuesday, becoming the third goaltender in NHL history to make their first start in the Stanley Cup final and win.
• Frederik Andersen was listed as a scratch for Game 4 after starting each of the team's 16 postseason games to that point, with Rod Brind'Amour noting that his absence from even backup duty was to give him a full night off.
• Pyotr Kochetkov backed up Bussi in Game 4, his first time being dressed for NHL action since Dec. 20. Initially expected to be done for the season, he worked his way back from lower-body surgery and was set to start the team's regular-season finale on Long Island on Apr. 14, until a "roster technicality" prevented that. He made a few rehab appearances with Chicago (AHL) prior.

On The Other Side...

• Vegas Head Coach John Tortorella "didn't think we were that bad" and credited his team's pushback when reviewing its Game 4 performance, but pointed to a handful of lost battles as the difference in the contest.
• "On Staal's goal, I think the one that hit (McNabb's) glove, we have him, but we let him off the hook," he said of his team's net-front struggles on Tuesday. "He's killing us in front of the net, Staal. We've got to do a better job around the blue (paint)..."
• Brett Howden continues to shine offensively, lighting the lamp for the league-leading 14th time this postseason in Game 4 and recording a point for the fourth straight game.
• Mitch Marner also stretched his point streak to four games with an assist on Tuesday, but finished with a negative plus-minus (-1) for the first time in the Stanley Cup Final.
• Carter Hart was arguably the Golden Knights' best player in the Western Conference Final, allowing just seven goals in four games against the high-flying Avalanche. But he's struggled to replicate those showings in this series, with Tuesday's loss making him the first goaltender in NHL history to allow four or more goals in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final.

Injury Updates...

• The Canes have no injuries to report at this time.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their BLACK uniforms for the contest. They will wear black for every home game and white for every road game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes are scheduled to travel on Saturday ahead of Sunday's Game 6 in Vegas.
• Next Game: Sunday, June 14 | SCF, Game 6 at Vegas | 8:00 p.m. ET | How To Watch | Watch Parties
• Next Home Game (if necessary): Wednesday, June 17 | SCF, Game 7 vs. Vegas | 8:00 p.m. ET | How To Watch | Tickets | Parking