Hurricanes Chase 1st Stanley Cup Final in 20 Years as 3-1 Lead Puts Montreal on Brink
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · May 29
Hurricanes Chase 1st Stanley Cup Final in 20 Years as 3-1 Lead Puts Montreal on Brink
16 articles · Updated · WRAL News · May 29
Friday’s Game 5 at home gives Carolina its first chance to clinch a Stanley Cup Final berth since 2006 after a 4-0 Game 4 rout put the Hurricanes up 3-1.
That opening came from Carolina’s most dominant performance of the series: three late first-period goals in less than three minutes and a shutdown defensive effort that Brind’Amour and Jordan Staal called one of the team’s best games.
Carolina has won three straight since dropping Game 1 after an 11-day layoff, and its 11-1 playoff start matches the 1984 Oilers and 1993 Canadiens for the best through 12 games.
The opportunity also tests a franchise that had been swept in the East final in 2009, 2019 and 2023, with Brind’Amour stressing the Hurricanes ‘haven’t accomplished anything’ until they finish the series.
Is Frederik Andersen's historic playoff run the greatest goaltending turnaround in NHL history?
Has Carolina’s deep roster created the new blueprint for winning the Stanley Cup?
Why did Montreal dominate the regular season series but completely falter in the playoffs?