Overview
- Carolina beat Vegas 4-2 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final and can clinch the championship with a win in Las Vegas on Sunday.
- Vegas center William Karlsson left Game 5 with an arm or wrist injury and was officially ruled out for Game 6 by coach John Tortorella.
- Tortorella publicly defended Hart and snapped at a reporter about the idea of a goalie change, saying the question about pulling Hart was “stupid,” and reiterated Hart will start on Sunday.
- Hart has allowed four or more goals in each of the first five Final games, a mark not seen before in NHL history, while Carolina’s midseries switch to Brandon Bussi has stabilized their goaltending.
- Special teams and discipline swung Game 5 as Carolina scored twice on the power play after consecutive Vegas penalties, a dynamic that leaves Vegas needing quick tactical fixes and stronger goaltending to force a Game 7.