Brind’Amour & Players’ Thoughts Following Hurricanes’ 4-2 Game 5 Win

The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from winning their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. They defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 to give them a 3-2 lead, their first of the series. Following their Game 5 victory, Rod Brind’Amour and select players met with the media to get their thoughts on the win and what to look for in Game 6 on Sunday (June 14).

Brandon Bussi

For the second straight game, Brandon Bussi picks up another win for the Hurricanes, putting them one win away from glory. He became the first goalie in NHL history to make his first two career playoff starts in a Stanley Cup Final and win both games.

When asked about another milestone under his belt and helping to will the team to be one win away, Bussi said, “I don’t know if I’m willing the team. We like our game right now; it’s fun to be a part of. We work hard, we sacrifice, we care about the guy next to each other. Good win for us tonight. Enjoy tonight. Tomorrow we move on to Game 6.”

Bussi now has a 2-1 record with a 2.18 goals-against average (GAA) and a .908 save percentage (SV%) through three games, with two starts in the playoffs. With the way he’s playing, there has to be some certainty that he will start on Sunday in Game 6 for the chance to clinch the series and the Stanley Cup.

Jordan Staal

Ahead of Game 5, Jaccob Slavin mentioned, when asked about Jordan Staal on his current run in the Stanley Cup Final, “It’s unbelievable. I’ve been with him for 11 years now; he’s been my captain the whole time. Obviously, he wasn’t wearing a letter for the first couple of years, but he was a leader on this team, always has been. It’s welcoming to see; he’s what, 37 years old and still one of the hardest workers on the team. He puts in his time, always wanting to get better, and even learning from the young guys, some of the young forwards. It’s just the way he comes about the game, the way he is as a person; you couldn’t wish anything better for him.”

During Thursday night’s game, Staal added another goal, giving him six through the first five games of the series. He joined Jean Beliveau (1956), Maurice Richard (1951), and Cyclone Taylor (1918) to score in the first five games to begin a Stanley Cup Final. After scoring 20 goals in the regular season, he has eight throughout the playoffs. Only Logan Stankoven has more (11).

When asked to describe the feeling about scoring another big goal in the series, Staal stated, “It feels great. It’s a good time to get hot, and trying to contribute anyway I can. Just win games, and the pucks been going in, and continue to do all the things I have to do to help win the games.”

Staal has scored in five straight games, tying a Stanley Cup Final record. He’s helped the Hurricanes to get within one win of the Stanley Cup. Expect Staal to have these guys ready and close it out on Sunday in Las Vegas. If there is someone who has made a clear case to win the Conn Smythe, it’s Staal.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers had another huge night, tallying three assists in Game 5. It’s back-to-back games with three or more points, joining Connor McDavid (2024), Mario Lemieux (1991), and Wayne Gretzky (1988) to do that in the same Stanley Cup Final. He also became the eighth player in history to have three or more goals and five or more assists through their first five Stanley Cup Final games.

When asked about the confidence of the team heading into Game 6 with a chance to close out the series, Ehlers stated, “It’s huge, obviously. It’s going to be really hard. It’s going to be a really tough game. But we’re excited for it; we’re ready for it. This team has been working all year for moments like these, and especially this moment. So, we’re excited.”

Through 17 games in the playoffs, he has seven goals and 17 points, putting him one point behind Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake (18). He’s been everything the Hurricanes asked for and then some. He’s come as advertised, and now he’s helping lead the Hurricanes to be one win away from reaching the mountaintop.

Rod Brind’Amour

There is no doubt how much Brind’Amour leans on Staal to be the leader on and off the ice. Now the captain has six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, with a chance to bring a second Stanley Cup to Raleigh.

When asked about Staal leading off the scoresheet, but now on the scoresheet, and the confidence it brings to the leadership group for Game 6, Brind’Amour stated, “Massive. This is necessarily, not necessarily; you’re expecting him to put up those kind of numbers. When he does, it’s like an added bonus. He’s deserved it; he’s been playing great. You got to get that one more still, and he knows it and will have our group ready.”

They say the fourth win is the hardest to achieve in the playoffs, especially when it comes to winning the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes have their first chance on Sunday in Vegas to win it for the first time in 20 years. It’ll be a total team effort once again. After how they played in Game 5, which was their most Hurricanes-like hockey game that people know them for, they have a shot to close it out in six games.

It’ll be interesting to see how it goes on Sunday night, but knowing how the Hurricanes move on and focus on the next one, it’ll be business as usual for them with the biggest trophy in sports on the line. That being said, will they achieve the one goal and reach the top of the mountain?