Recap: The Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes faced up for a crucial Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh. In the opening seven minute of the game Pavel Dorofeyev gave Vegas a 1-0 edge on the power play. A handful of shifts later the Hurricanes answered right back. After twenty minutes Game 5 was locked in a 1-1 tie.
Carolina snapped the tie deep into the second frame to take their first lead of the game. Late in the period the Hurricanes scored to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
Trailing 3-1, the Golden Knights committed a costly penalty which the Hurricanes took advantage. Dorofeyev scored his second of the game to make it a 4-2 Carolina advantage. Vegas emptied their net with a late game power play but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Hurricanes take a 3-2 Stanley Cup Final lead by defeating the Golden Knights 4-2 in Raleigh. Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Sunday at 5PM PT at T-Mobile Arena. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights finally figured out how to start a game better against a Hurricanes team that’s extremely hard to keep from running over you in the 1st period. The problem is that the dominance in the 2nd period vanished and it was mostly because of untimely penalties. Lauzon took a bad one, then after VGK killed that one, McNabb took another and the Canes capitalized. It’s hard to keep games from snowballing in Raleigh and that’s exactly what happened. Carolina potted another in the 2nd and then another penalty gave them 4-minutes to essentially seal the game. VGK are in a dangerous hole, and will now have to win twice in a row against a team that hasn’t lost two straight since January. This team never says die though, there’s no way they are rolling over on Sunday easily. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights vs Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.
- Backs against the wall
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Shea Theodore
** Jack Eichel
* Pavel Dorofeyev
Pistol Pete
Decent push at the end.
Damn it on the ropes now. Canes lead the series for the first time. Need them to lose back to back which has not happened since January 12, 13.
Carter Hart’s stats through the first three rounds were excellent. This series they have headed south in a big way. Not all his fault of course but still some distance from the difference making performance we could have used to win this series. In retrospect Torts should have tried Hill. Maybe now he will.
This game will be a field day for the “anti-fans” who bashed us predicting a Canes series win following game four. That is just not good karma. Oh well it is what it is they are who they are. If Karlsson is out it will be perfect for them!
Hang in there folks it’s not over yet. Win game six at T-Mobile head back to Raleigh and play light outs. Never say never!
Earl the Replanted Transplant
Maybe the VGK will stop giving the Canes extra help. Maybe the top line will do more? Maybe defense will box out the Canes? Maybe if Vegas gets to Game 7 MacCauley will lose his hard-on for penalizing vegas, correct me if I am wrong but the only calls against the Canes were delay of game for puck of glass. Wes has been after them since the Mammoth shutout in Vegas. Certainly the poor play from pur Golden Knights hasn’t helped them. Vegas can rise to be the better team, and I sure hope so.
Vgk fan
Yes you are correct about the penalties on Carolina they were all delay of game penalties. Its hard for the officials to ignore delay of game penalties. Apparently Carolina played a complete penalty free game outside the delay of games.
George
Not going to argue. Please follow the link (no its not a set up, it’s a debunk) from a Vegas fan. The problem is in the exhausted net, he needed a game off and never got one. We do it in the regular season why not in the playoffs?
Duckboy
Never
Richie-Rich
I am conflicted about Hart for game 6. I think he’s been overused. We needed him to to stand on his head and win one of the last two games. Instead he’s giving up 4+ GAA in this Cup final series. I agree, its not all on him. The defense this year simply is no way near as good as the 23 Cup winning roster. Credit Carolina for breaking down the structure and winning more battles in our zone.
I fully expect that our boys will not allow themselves to be eliminated in game 6. Have faith!
TS
Yup, the Cup is riding on Hart’s shoulders. He was asked to carry the load, after a lengthy absence from the sport. Would ANY G be up for this task?? Would most ” rookies” fold under this pressure??
Hart has stepped up and stunned the detractors. He has done everything asked of him. But he CAN’T do it alone!!!! It takes the ENTIRE team to win the CUP!!
VGK Fan
I really hope Hart has a great game! There is no way you can play Hill he simply had a below average season.
Richie-Rich
SCF Game 5 Analysis, CAR 4, VGK 2
Series CAR leads 3-2
Vegas will face elimination in game 6 here at the Fortress.
Different night, same result. Lack of defensive structure is becoming the theme of this Stanley Cup Final for Vegas. At some point you expect Carter Hart to stand on his head and win a game for them, but it’s just not happening. 3 GAA after 2 periods and another 4 GAA game.
McNabb better keep his stick off of Cane’s players backs the rest of this series, the refs are obviously laser focused on him.
Karlsson went out of the game with what looks like a serious wrist injury. From the look on his face it looked pretty serious.
The bottom line so far in this series is the lack of defensive structure and poor goal tending. You cannot win a Stanley Cup when you are giving up 4+ goals per game. I think maybe Torts rode the Hart horse too much. So, now what do you do? At this point, the smart decision in hindsight would have been to rest Hart in game 5. Now? There’s no way you go to Hill in game 6.
All of Vegas will be waiting to hear whether or not Karlsson is out for game 6.
That’s it. Win Game 6 and play a game 7 in Raleigh or its season over.
Pistol Pete
Hart this series; 4.00 GAA/.857 SV%
Those are pretty scary numbers. Four GA every game all five games. Not all on him but still.
Richie-Rich
Those 39 seconds of horror are coming back to haunt us, aren’t they? Playing those extra OTs may have gassed Hart out.
Richie-Rich
Hart needs to be the catalyst in Game 6, stand on his head, whatever to keep the Canes at 2 goals or less.
DeezNutz
If Karlsson is done this series is likely over. I feel so bad for Marner this guy went on an absolute heater like nothing we have ever seen before and his team let him down.
The hockey gods are probably punishing Hart because he isn’t giving up terrible goals but literally fling the puck at the net in chaos and they are all going in no matter what he does. It feels like destiny.
Eichel 2 assists is whatever. He hasn’t been a threat whatsoever all series.
I seriously hope that Andersson hasn’t already signed and if the deal was done before or during the first 3 rounds that number is going to be so high I don’t think fans will be too happy signing a medium sized plug for long term if it’s not 6 million or less.
Karlsson is out and Hertl was supposed to be our true 2C and he’s just not capable of being that guy. He’s decent but no where close to what I imagine the GM thought he would be for us.
It’s time to take our lumps VGK fans. When we lose Toronto fans will collectively blow their loads and all the fat, ugly and childless feminists on social media that have been calling our goalie a rapist for months will be in pure scissor fucking ecstacy. It is what it is. I almost wish we just lost to Colorado like we probably should have. Get mentally ready for that L because it’s very likely coming soon.
Vgk fan
I think we need to let Anderson walk.
The guy scored 17 goals this year and deserves to get paid by someone. My guess it will be 7 or 8 million. Our focus should be on Doro.
still believe
Why would anyone wish that VGK had lost to Colorado instead of being here vying for the Stanley Cup? That makes zero sense to me, win on Sunday and its a 1 game series where anything can happen.
As Tug McGraw so eloquently espoused back in 1973 for the New York Mets . ‘Ya gotta believe’!
Duckboy
It’s over everyone
1 no Karlsson no knights. We get to see the incredilble saad now.
2 the bone headedness of torts is starting to come out. Breaking up Karlsson Marner and Howden last game. Playing stone eichel and Marner. That line isn’t a good combo. Then he is trying to play them every 3rd shift to run them into the ground . Over 21 min each in a game they were never winning after 4-1
What a waste
3 eichel now trying to hero his way through the games. We all know this doesn’t work
4 Anderson is fucking useless. Let him go after this season.
5 while the goals aren’t all harts fault there are ones he should save that he doesn’t. He isn’t a championship quality goalie.
6 It’s rubbish that series got 2 days off in Vegas and then 1 day to travel back to Carolina. Now they get 2 days back to Vegas. I mean what the hell is that ?
Carolina will rout us in game 6
Prepare
Sell your tix if you can to game 6 to recoup costs
Carl
Fucking penalties all of them stupid, by undisciplined jackasses Smith, McNabb, Dowd and Lauzon. They lose in 6. Tortorella won’t wanna coach this bunch of undisciplined clowns another season.
TS
It ain’t over yet, peop)e!! Are you giving up before the game even starts??? Come on!!!
Jake
Give away hockey.
Coaches need to figure out a plan to defeat Carolina aggressiveness.
Vegas had advantage of highly skilled players, until the games started.
I am hoping Hart can have two shut down, game stealing games to become a Vegas Icon!
larry
In no particular order of what transpired tonight…..
1) What on earth was Mcnabb doing tonight? Im all for aggressiveness, but what in the heck were those blatant and totally unnecessary cross checks he delivered tonight, and the ghastly timing right after Lauzon’s unnecessary minor?
2) Why was Hill not put into the game to start the third? Yes it was ‘only’ a 2 goal deficit, but regardless to how the series has unfolded thus far, a possible spark was needed to get the team going. Would it have made a difference, we shall never know.
3) I do know Im not a Hill proponent, but I think there is actually little choice but to start him in Game 6 and hope for the best, quite obviously it would be a gamble, but what is there to lose when your starting goalie has given up 4 in 5 straight games.
4) Karlsson leaves the game tied at 1-1 with a little over 10 minutes left in the second, and all unravels, nothing more needs to be understood than how valuable he has and always has been.
5) I thought our first period was really good tonight, getting past the energy of the building early, and were very close on several occasions to going up 2-0 which may have created the momentum to carry on to victory, but sadly could not be done.
6) If Karlsson is out on Sunday, I have zero clue who this coach will put in and Im sure he has zero clue about many things taking place, I also thing Korczak will be in for Coghlan as that experiment has run its course.
I firmly believe there WILL be a Game 7, I firmly believe VGK will emerge victorious on Sunday, I take solace in the fact Eichel was more engaged tonight, and that Pavel might have re-awakened, I think Hertl will rightfully be back at center, and if…..and its a huge freaking IF, the defenseman actually play a smart, resourceful and defensive-minded game on Sunday we will be facing off on Wednesday for Lord Stanley’s Cup!!
Pistol Pete
“I firmly believe there WILL be a Game 7, I firmly believe VGK will emerge victorious on Sunday”
Larry, I share your optimism. Nice to see in the face of the bashing and anti-fan rhetoric from a number of “posters” following this unfortunate and potentially pivotable game five loss. We all know these guys can be counted on to show up when games are lost and not when they are not. Steep hill to climb but will be nice to give these turkeys a much deserved FU should we win. Cheers brother.
VGK fan
I have to agree on #2, even though there have been many multiple goal comebacks this series it seemed to me this particular 2 goal deficit seemed a lot larger because of the disparity in play so why not put Hill in either to get him some work or maybe to somehow provide some different kind of energy to the bench. I know they put Bussi in to get some work in game 3, not because they ever thought they would overcome a 4 goal deficit in the third, and now somehow its worked in their favor.
Knights fan in minnie
I am proud of.our guys! Their hair looked so nice in the pregame skate, and we have so many handsome men! I just love the Las Vegas Golden Nights!
DeezNutz
That’s the spirit Minnie!
knights fan in minny
Is the impostor Your twin brother angry little nutz
knights fan in minny
Oh how precious The wet dream impostor is back too gutless to say who he is Nothing but a gutless punk
CANADA
Very poor defensive effort. What is the problem behind the net we just get outworked. We coughed up so many pucks that turn into goals . Horrible. We still have a chip and chair . And maybe bring Smith back . Hart has to stay in . A HILL TO DIE ON.
Vic
The look on Torts’ face when he was told about the Karlsson injury said it all. Also, worst thing we did was chase the #1 goalie as the #2 goalie looking like a playoff goalie with a storybook finish. Hope not.
TS
Vic, Kinda looked like the death grimmace, didn’t it??
Report is, Karlsson is not likely to play Sunday…
DL
Many posting on here are not true VGK and or hockey fans in general. You…me…we…don’t have the slightest bit of knowledge or inside information on the organization and team to make the ill-informed claims and mostly negative comments. You need to realize they are doing everything possible to win games and win the Cup. And realize there is another team on the other bench trying to do the same. May the best team win. VGK is our team and we should support them…win or lose.
Knights fan in minnie
Are you saying their hair didn’t look great in the pregame skate???
DeezNutz
My only hope and cope now is knowing how mentally weak the Canes have been for years in the conference finals. My question is does this team have the killer instinct to close out a Cup winning game? Now hear me out:
They say the 4th win in a playoff series is the hardest to get (true) and the 16th game in the playoffs is even harder. So knowing how soft mentally and physically this Carolina team is (diving all over the place like the Montreal youngsters) then you have to think the pressure for them to beat us without Karlsson (our 3rd most valuable player of all time) is probably very high. In their minds the thought of losing to us without Wild Bill and forcing a game 7 in Carolina is in the back of their minds for the next 3 days. Yes the cards are stacked against us but we also now have nothing to lose and I believe we come out with hair on fire and we overwhelm them in game 6. So let’s pretend we miracululously pull out a win on Sunday (odds not in our favor) but it’s hockey so anything is possible. So now we go back to Carolina for game 7. Now the ball is on our court. If Vegas can play with intensity like never before and overwhelm this perhaps mentally fragile Carolina team (3 sweeps in conference finals?) Them we have them. This is why Torts made the “leaving my clothes in the hotel” comment because he knows we will at very least play like we have nothing to lose. If the Knights can get this thing back to Carolina I think the nervous energy and choke possibilities can become too much for Canes to handle.
Now I could be wrong and the Canes do in fact have the killer instinct that it takes to close out their most important playoff series in 20 years but this is all mental now and it’s their series to choke in front of their fans.
My point is that we have lost in the goaltending, scoring, defense, coaching, puck luck and refereeing in this series but can the Canes overcome the psychological aspect of this situation? A part of me doesnt think they can. We will see on Sunday.
knights fan in minny
You called yourself out mentally weak that a Girl
leonard wise
The only question that needs to be answered is can we score 5 goals on Sunday. We know this team has a perfect record of giving up a least 4 goals a game. Our coach looks and sounds like a clown.Every adjustment has not worked. I feel for Marner but this teams defense, goaltending and power play and now penalty kill has been subpar.I agree with Dee, I don’t think this Carolina team is that good but neither are we and I also agree with Dee it would have been nice if Colorado just finished us off. Beating them was the only reason we believed we could beat beat Carolina. We really have a lot of holes on this team ie goalie, defense and a 14 million dollar player who’s afraid to score. In addition to all those players who committed stupid penalties tonight. I pray we don’t sign Anderson and hope a major change of direction is coming for this team. We aren’t getting any younger and the other teams are coming up fast. Can’t rely on Karli and Stone to stay healthy. Enjoy the funeral on Sunday. I want them to win as much as anyone else here only hope is if Carolina plays worse than us. While exciting for everyone else this is not a battle of the titans.
Duckboy
You video jumped the shark tonight Ken.
Summary
“The super line wasn’t the answer.
but the coach is going to play the super line in the next game.
But don’t give up on the team because of “intangibles” which Ken totally disagreed with when Cassidy was fired.
But I wouldn’t be shocked if we lose”
Karlsson was the key. No depth on the team.
Coach is a horrible tactician. We have done well in spite of the decisions he made.
It’s over barring mircale.
If the knights get down Sunday it will be like when we beat Florida in game 5.
Ps losers don’t believe in curses
Pistol Pete
I’m ok with people expressing their opinions, in fact in the negative posting fair points can be made as far as mistakes that cost the game and how they might carry forward to the next game. Where they step over the line for the loyal fans is when they call for the series to be lost. For example after game four calling the Canes in six or seven that would just never happen in our locker room. And that is the point, just as in the locker room fans should always be pushing for their team to win no matter what especially the coveted SC Finals, not calling the other team to win it. We will take the final outcome, the point is show a little good taste along the way.
Duckboy
Look at the thought police not being able to deal with some cold hard analysis.
Series was lost when we blew game 2 and/or 4.
Now we lose the key player that had this team going.
Now the coach is making ridiculous line ups even before karlsson was out.
And now because people don’t all say “everything will be ok and we will win” you have a problem?
How about some critical thinking skills pal.
You misconstrue some setting people’s expectations more appropriately with like “i hate the team”
Winning one game may be possible
They rally around the fact that Karlsson is out.
Two games with this line up, i think it’s like 90% chance loses the series with Karlsson out.
I’ll watch. I’ll cheer for the knights but my expectations have been reset and I think everyone should as well.
It absolutely sucks.
knights fan in minny
Stay out of the damn box
FG
Dorofeyev needs to be moved to the top line to get more scoring chances, since he and Howden are the only ones that look dangerous.
Barby has been useless, move him down to the third line.
Speaking of useless, how about the fourth line?
VGK has given the last two games to the Canes with unforced icings that led to goals right after, dumb penalties that now ignited their PP, defensive zone turnovers and lost net front battles. Oh how I miss Pietrangelo and Martinez, the series would be over.
Hart is done, only goalie to give up four goals in five Stanley Cup games. Not much hope when you have to score 5 goals.
Karlsson loss is a death knell, and his return putting Marner on the wing was the key to this playoff run.
Most VGK fans, including myself, never thought this team would make it this far, so I will hope against hope for a turn of fortune for VGK, but I fear the end is very very near.
JB
Start Hill in game 6. Makes sense. Nothing to lose. Start Hill and see if we can catch some magic. Why not. Start Hill!
Frank
Because honestly, he’s not an upgrade at this point. Unfortunately.
Vgk fan
JB,
There actually is something to lose its a best of 7 not a best of 9. If you were going to play Hill it should have been game 5.
The only reason we are in the SCF is because Hill has been on the bench.
Rrale
IMO starting Hill would be one of the dumbest things VGK could do. If Hart is not starting how about Schmid?
Better yet how about VGK start playing better? Stop leaving opposing players open in front of the net.
Or maybe stop the stupid penalties.
Or maybe play better on Power Play.
Or maybe play better on Penalty Kill.
Or maybe Canes players/fans disguised as ref’s be changed out for real refs.
I have not given up hope of VGK winning another cup.
JB
Stupid is, as stupid does. Start Hill. Why not? ;)
Gonz
We can talk about this game all we want, but if the series is lost Game 2 should go down as the biggest blunder.
JB
There has been blunders by both teams. Yea we lost a two goal lead in game two. But they lost a two goal lead in game one. Can’t blame the outcome of this series on anyone game or anyone player. It’s been a pretty even series. Carolina is a damn good team. Maybe more relentless than us? Maybe more talented overall? We take game 6 then it’s a crap shoot in 7.
Pistol Pete
One of my bosses at work, tall and athletic, very good personality, really knows hockey, longtime loyal Rangers fan, indicated if the VGK had Shesterkin with the team we have we would have won the last three Cups. Of course he just picked that number to make his point. For sure we have needed more than Carter Hart in this series. We are the better team goaltending notwithstanding. Hill is our best shot now.
Pistol Pete
An argument can be made Hart is fatigued: 29 starts in a row with often just a day off. Exhausted and you keep him as the sole starter in the most intense situation, the Cup finals against a high pressure team. Hart was borderline elite the first three rounds and when it counted the most against the Avs (1.75/.944) he was elite.
A healthy Hill and Hart is a good enough duo imo. Neither elite elite but good enough in a regular and postseason rotation. Keep Lindbom in Henderson for another season where he’ll keep getting better. Hart has one more year at $2m. A heathy Hill is a good goalie (imo) keeping him healthy a potential issue.
We’ll never know for sure but the room went stale on Cassidy and imo it’s doubtful he would have gotten this far. Torts knows a great deal, is a nice guy, but his innate stubborness lead to three critical errors which could cost the Cup. First he went all in on an overworked Hart. Second he never should have challenged the no goal in game two. Third, he should have called a time-out during the 39 second three goals.
Pistol Pete
My bad: the three goal flurry that required the timeout, we won that in OT so no direct impact. He should have called timeout as I see it. McPhee and McCrimmon might not agree and they know.
One other thought. Hart did have one week off after the COL series so Torts no doubt reasoned that would help him play the whole series. Who knows what McPhee and McCrimmon think about putting Hill in and whether they discuss this with the coach.
hdbiker7851
PP – we hear you but that is water under the bridge and history which you are well aware of can’t change. Concerning Hill being a good goalie mean nothing because being healthy and able to play negates that observation. Saying your doubtful the team would not be where they are today with Cassidy behind the bench borders on stupidity as you have ZERO idea that would be the case. Now your analysis of Tort – while one could seriously question many of your statements, -concerning the statement being stubborn is certainly a legitimate observation.
Leonard Wise
And he never should have left the press conference which cost us a second round pick.
Frank
Penalties doomed our momentum that game. Plain and simple. Many similar type plays were calls against us that did not go against the canes – with the exception of the high stick by Stone. Hart needed to come up big and just could not (cant let in that second goal by Svechnikov which beat him 5 hole…. bad goal). I expect a dogfight in game 6. Karlsson going down REALLY hurts. Maybe Hill should start… but I would not expect him – even if he does (which he wont) – to make a big difference. Need to play clean, defensive hockey and our stars (Eichel/Marner/Stone – need to show up)
HSK
a stroll down memory lane……….
Vgk have a history of making backup goalies look good. the Demko effect.
Remember a couple years ago when career minor leaguer and 3rd stringer Jaxson Stauber beat the Knights at t mobile arena 6-0. That’s right, they got shutout by Utah with a minor league callup 6-0
======================
Jaxson Stauber shuts out Vegas in season debut, 6-0
Dana Greene
Sat, Nov 30, 2024
LAS VEGAS (ABC4 Sports) – Jaxson Stauber made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout, and the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 6-0 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
It was Stauber’s debut for Utah, his seventh NHL game and his first since Feb. 22, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Nov. 20 with Connor Ingram out because of an upper-body injury.
========================
so, call it the Stauber-Bussi effect
but it is true, and says more about the Vgk than the opponent goalie. it has complacency written all over it.
Richie-Rich
I like Ken’s lineup from his “Periscope”.
Barbashev, Eichel, Stone
Howden, Hertl, Marner
R Smith, Sissons, Barbashev
Kolesar, Sissons, C. Smith
Hanifan, Andersson
Mcnabb, Theodore
Lauzon, Coghlan
Hart
Richie-Rich
Ooppss. Sissons on line 3. Saad C for line 4?
larry
The legendary Metallica….
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words, I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
So close, no matter how far
It couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
At this point nothing else matters.
Game 2 meltdown doesnt matter.
Game 3 meltdown doesnt matter.
Losing Karlsson matters but ultimately doesnt matter.
Bad refereeing doesnt matter.
Staal doesnt matter.
Bussi doesnt matter.
Even 4 goals a game Hart doesnt matter.
The only thing that matters is Sunday, put everything that has transpired behind, and concentrate in the present as if there is no tomorrow, because if they shouldnt and dont, there is no tomorrow for the season.
Bottom line come out ready to play, play to win, because in Game 6 NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!
larry
KEN, I love reading you and following you here and on X as well. despite some severe knuckleheaded repeat posters you have there that shall go nameless but Im sure you know who they are, but my question/wonderment/bewilderment is in the fact. and I quote ‘Granted, I’ll still argue its not all that important’ in regard to faceoffs, watching Staal win every important faceoff whether its in the offensive or defensive zone, a 60-40 disparity for the opposition, how can that not factor in the play and flow of the game?