RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 20 years Friday night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
And through one period, it doesn’t appear the Montreal Canadiens can do anything to stop them.
Just like in their Game 4 victory, the Hurricanes scored three goals in the first period in Game 5 with Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Eric Robinson tallying goals in an eight-minute span. Jackson Blake added another goal in the second period.
The Hurricanes have won three straight games against the Montreal Canadiens and lead the series 3-1 entering Friday’s Game 5. The Vegas Golden Knights have clinched a spot in the final from the Western Conference.
Carolina, 11-1 overall in the postseason, dominated Montreal in a 4-0 Game 4 victory to seize control of the series and give itself a chane to clinch the series at home for the first time this postseason. Despite the lopsided nature of Game 4, the Hurricanes weren’t ready to indulge in any conversations about the series being over.
“This group’s pretty focused, and I think we understand that you guys [in the media] are talking all that, but that’s we understand how hard this is going to be,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said before Game 5. “To win any night, let alone in the playoffs, you have to bring your best.”
The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with Brind’Amour as captain. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against Buffalo that year.
Carolina has needed plenty of heroes in the playoffs, winning all five of its overtime games — with five different players scoring the winning goal. Goaltender Frederik Andersen, coming off a lackluster regular season, has been terrific. The Hurricanes’ depth, including offseason additions Nikolaj Ehlers and K’Andre Miller, and its fourth line has elevated the team.
