Game 5 belongs to Carolina, who move 3-2 ahead and sit one win from the Stanley Cup. In front of 18,761 fans in Raleigh, the hosts mixed clinical special teams with sturdy goaltending and won the key moments. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice on the power play. Nikolaj Ehlers collected three assists and drew a penalty that led to another goal. Vegas pushed late and had more shot share, but Carolina’s finish and faceoff control carried the night. On Sofascore you can dig into every shift, chance and Sofascore Rating swing from a tense Game 5.

Svechnikov’s power play brace sets the tone

Svechnikov took over the man‑advantage minutes. His first power‑play strike arrived in the second period after quick puck movement from Shayne Gostisbehere and Ehlers. He found the soft spot, opened his blade and snapped home from the right side. In the third, with Vegas on a double minor, he repeated the recipe for 4-1. The winger finished with 2 goals, 3 shots on goal, 2 hits and a +1 in 16:23 on ice. Both goals came on the power play, a perfect mirror of Carolina’s 2-of-5 night with the extra skater. His timing mattered most, as each tally landed right when Vegas pressure built. On Sofascore, Svechnikov earned the First Star tag and sat among the top performers by Sofascore Rating.

The Svechnikov show also freed teammates. His presence dragged coverage and opened lanes for quick one‑touch passes. Carolina repeatedly fed the half wall to the bumper and then to the slot, a pattern Vegas struggled to break. He battled on entries, protected pucks on the boards and kept plays alive. The details were clean, from quick releases to smart net drives. When the series turned toward special teams, Svechnikov made sure the scoreboard followed. He left Raleigh as the game’s obvious finisher.

Ehlers the creator: three helpers and the drawn call

If Svechnikov finished, Ehlers stitched the chances together. The Dane had 3 assists, with 2 on the power play and 1 at even strength. He teed up Jordan Staal’s first‑period equalizer after a neat touch in transition. On both man‑advantage goals he linked with Gostisbehere to move the puck east‑west before finding Svechnikov in stride. Ehlers also drew a tripping penalty on Jack Eichel in the third, and that whistle set up even more sustained pressure. He logged 17:47 on ice, added one hit, and never forced low‑percentage shots. His playmaking fed Carolina’s best looks even though he had 0 shots on goal himself. Sofascore marked him the Second Star, and his live Sofascore Rating reflected the value of primary assists and drawn penalties.

Discipline was part of his night too. He served two minor penalties for delay of game, including one in the final minutes. Even with those trips to the box, the balance sheet stayed heavily positive. Ehlers was tidy on the wall, sharp through the neutral zone and quick to spot the late trailer. His vision made Carolina’s power‑play structure hum. In a final where margins are thin, a three‑assist game goes a long way. Hurricanes fans will remember this one as the night their top creator controlled tempo without taking many shots.

Special teams, faceoffs and the numbers behind 3-2

This was a special‑teams win wrapped in solid details. Carolina went 2/5 on the power play, while Vegas finished 1/3. The hosts controlled the dots at 58% on faceoffs, a steady source of zone time and clean starts. They also led the hits 34-32 and posted six takeaways to the Knights’ two. Goaltender Brandon Bussi made 23 saves on 25 shots, calm on tips and east‑west plays, and earned the Third Star. Across the ice, Carter Hart stopped 20 of 24 for an .833 save rate. Advanced metrics leaned toward Vegas, with the Knights ahead in Corsi% at 56.5 and Fenwick% at 60.6. Carolina countered by shooting from better lanes and converting on 5‑on‑4.

Look closer at the shot profile and it fits the story. The Hurricanes’ average shot distance was longer, yet their best looks came off quick snap shots and tips in traffic. Their 5‑on‑4 conversion sat at 50%, the kind of playoff rate that swings games. Vegas generated volume late, but many attempts were from the outside or through bodies. The Knights did block 18 shots, which kept them alive, but Carolina’s timing blunted those gains. In a series where both teams can roll four lines, the margins are living on the power play, the draw and net‑front execution. Game 5 checked all three boxes for the home side.

One more to go

The series shifts to Las Vegas with Carolina leading 3-2 and the Cup in sight. The Knights will like their shot share and will trust home ice to boost their finish. The Hurricanes will like everything about their power play and the way their stars are delivering in sequence. Keep up with live momentum swings, player heat maps and every Sofascore Rating on Sofascore when Game 6 drops the puck.