What do the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights have in store for us in Game 5? We’ve seen dramatic comebacks and lots and lots of goals through four games. Thursday’s game is pivotal as in previous best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals, the Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series 20 out of 27 times.
One question heading into Game 5 was who will be in net for the Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen did not start Game 4 and did not serve as the backup to Brandon Bussi as Carolina won 5-3. On Thursday, Bussi was in the “starter’s” net during the team’s morning skate with Pyotr Kochetkov also on the ice. Andersen did not take part, but head coach Rod Brind’Amour said that “everybody’s available.”
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The series is now a best-of-three with one team having the opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup in Sunday’s Game 6.
Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lenovo Center | Raleigh, N.C.
TV channel: ABC
Follow along with the latest as the 2026 Stanley Cup Final heads back to Carolina for Game 5.
Live29 updates
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 5:53 PM PDT
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:44 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights aren’t out of this game yet, though time is running out.
Pavel Dorofeyev poked in a rebound off a shot from Shea Theodore to close Vegas to within 4-2. Six minutes remain in the third period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:37 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes had a chance to put this game away with a four-minute power play on a double-minor penalty.
Carolina seized the opportunity with Andrei Svechnikov scoring his second power-play goal of Game 5. Nikolaj Ehlers found Svechnikov in front of the net after a nice spin move freed him up for a pass.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:33 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Mark Stone is called for an accidental, but dangerous high-sticking penalty, getting his blade under the visor of the Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield.
The double-minor gives Carolina a four-minute power play near the midway point of the third period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights successfully killed the Hurricanes’ power play. Carter Hart stopped three shots from Carolina during that two minutes.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas’ Jack Eichel is called for tripping Nikolaj Ehlers, putting Carolina back on the power play with just under three minutes played in the third period.
This will be the Hurricanes’ third power play of Game 5.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 7:17 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Golden Knights center William Karlsson is out for the remainder of this game, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports.
He left the game midway through the second period with an apparent left wrist injury. While the Golden Knights did not comment on Karlsson leaving the game, he appeared to suffer the injury on a hit by Carolina defenseman Sean Walker.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The home crowd at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh had plenty to cheer about with the Hurricanes taking a 3-1 lead in the second period. Carolina is 20 minutes away from going ahead 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final.
Shots on goal: Carolina 15, Vegas 12
Faceoffs won: Carolina 22, Vegas 12
Power plays: Vegas 2, Carolina 2
Hits Vegas 29, Carolina 24
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:51 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Sebastian Aho wrists a shot from the r circle past Carter Hart to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the second period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:50 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Brett Howden is denied on a Golden Knights’ breakaway by Brandon Bussi. Bussi got the puck away from Howden on a poke check. Jaccob Slavin was also playing Howden tight on defense.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes score on the power play!
Andrei Svechnikov slaps a shot from the left wing past Carter Hart to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Hurricanes got three shots on goal during their power play, but do not score.
However, Carolina will go right back on the power play after Brayden McNabb is called for cross-checking against Jackson Blake.
McNabb could’ve been called for a cross-check earlier on Taylor Hall.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:37 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas’ Jeremy Lauzon gets whistled for a roughing penalty, pushing Logan Stankoven to the ice with his stick. Carolina will be on the power play for the first time in Game 5.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Staal is the first player to score in each of the first five games of a Stanley Cup Final since 1956, according to TNT researcher Chris Jastrzembski.
The last to do so was Jean Beliveau with the Montreal Canadiens.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:25 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Golden Knights can’t capitalize on beginning the second period with a man advantage, though. Carolina defensemen blocked two shots without Brandon Bussin having to make a save.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:20 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Staal wins the face-off from Vegas’ Jack Eichel to open the second period for Carolina.
Vegas begins on the power play
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas will begin the second period on the power play with Carolina getting whistled for its second delay of game penalty of the game. K’Andre Miller hit the puck over the glass with six seconds remaining in the first period.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 5:59 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Vegas and Carolina are tied 1-1 after the first period. The stats reflect how evenly played this game has been.
Shots on goal :Vegas 8, Carolina 5
Faceoffs won: Carolina 10, Vegas: 7
Power plays: Vegas 2, Carolina 0
Hits Carolina 12, Vegas 11
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 5:51 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that Frederik Andersen wasn’t dressed for Game 5 to give him as much time off as possible in case he ends up playing again in this series.
But he said Brandon Bussi got the start because of how well he played in Game 4.
Thu, June 11, 2026 at 5:47 PM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Staal has his sixth goal of the Stanley Cup Final, redirecting a pass from the back of the left circle from Nikolaj Ehlers.
Staal got himself in position for the score after checking Brayden McNabb at the back line, then turned toward the goal for Ehlers’ pass.
We’re tied at 1-1 with about eight minutes rem