Hurricanes Pregame Presser: Blake & Brind’Amour Mindsets Ahead of Game 5

After their morning skate, some players, along with Rod Brind’Amour, met with a large contingent of media, from the U.S. and Canada, ahead of their Game 5 showdown with the Montreal Canadiens. During the press conference, The Hockey Writers asked Brind’amour and Jackson Blake questions about their mindset going into a massive Game 5 on Friday night (May 29).

Jackson Blake

Blake has had a career season in his sophomore campaign with the Hurricanes. He had 22 goals and 53 points in 81 games, a huge jump from his 17 and 34 in his rookie season. Even in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 22-year-old has been putting on a clinic in his second-ever postseason. He has four goals and 13 points, tied with Taylor Hall in points and assists (nine). While most of the Conn Smythe Trophy talk has involved Frederik Andersen, Hall, and Logan Stankoven, Blake has a case to be in that conversation as well.

Speaking of Hall and Stankoven, those two, along with Blake, have been the best line in all of the playoffs. They have a combined 16 goals, 19 assists, and 35 points, along with a plus-19 rating. It’s been something to behold with the second line leading the way, especially with the top line being focused on throughout the playoffs. That’s given the trio of Hall, Stankoven, and Blake more room to do their thing against better matchups. Overall, those three have been one of the big reasons the Hurricanes are where they’re at right now.

When asked about how it’s been playing with them, along with how efficient they’ve been throughout the playoffs, he stated, “Hallsy and Stank have been unbelievable these playoffs. It’s been fun playing with those guys. We’re getting there, we’re close, and you can kind of feel it a little bit. It’s exciting right now.”

“I’ll expect the same tonight. Hopefully, just come up with the same attitude, the same mindset, and get it done tonight,” Blake added.

That line will look to continue to build on what they’ve been doing throughout the playoffs. Hall and Stankoven have scored in the Eastern Conference Final, with Blake providing multiple assists. The Canadiens have kept them somewhat at bay, but eventually they were going to strike. Now they are close to clinching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years, and it’s that line that’s been a big component of that.

Rod Brind’Amour

Brind’Amour has been saying it all playoffs, especially now with one win away from a Stanley Cup Final berth, the mindset stays the same. Also, they’re a confident group, but not overconfident. It’s been 20 years since the Hurricanes made it to the final dance, back when Brind’Amour was the captain for the 2006 team.

It’s well known how great a leadership group the Hurricanes have. In that regard, when asked about leaning on them to lead the way in a crucial Game 5, Brind’Amour stated, “I hope I am. They’re in the room, they’re the ones out there on the ice. We’re going to lay the plan out. We’re going to try to get it ready. But they’re going to have to be the ones out there executing it. We have a great leadership group.”

It’s been a long time since the Hurricanes have been in this spot. Most importantly, this is the closest this franchise has been to this position in the Eastern Conference Final in the Brind’Amour era. Now it comes down to closing this series out on Friday night in Game 5 to avoid heading back to Montreal for Game 6. It’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out. But make no mistake, the focus is on winning Game 5. Everything else will come after that.