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Hurricanes beat Golden Knights in Game 5 to take 3-2 Stanley Cup Final lead

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This Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights has been one of the wildest in recent memory, if not ever.

After four thrillers, including two insane games in Vegas, the series shifted back to Raleigh for Game 5, with the two teams knotted at 2-2.

This was one of the slower starts in a series filled with quick strikes, but one thing that’s been constant throughout? Self-inflicted penalties.

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Pavel Dorofeyev

Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring in Game 5 with a power play goal. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The Hurricanes were whistled for one of those a few minutes before the halfway point of the first period when Nikolaj Ehlers shot a puck over the glass, and it didn’t take Vegas long to make them pay.

Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev capitalized on the ensuing power play, burying Vegas’ first shot of the night off a terrific feed from Jack Eichel.

However, just minutes later, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal — who is having the Cup Final of his life — extended his scoring streak to five games on a slick redirection off a pass from Ehlers (redemption!) to even things up.

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That tied the record for the longest goal streak in Stanley Cup Final history. Staal had just two goals this postseason before the series started.

Jordan Staal

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal tied a Stanley Cup Final record by scoring in five straight games this series. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Carolina opened the second period killing off another penalty — another delay-of-game infraction, if you can believe that — but it was back-to-back penalties for Vegas that led to a Hurricanes goal.

Just one second after the Golden Knights killed off a Jeremy Lauzon roughing penalty, Brayden McNabb took an ill-advised cross-checking penalty to send Carolina back on the power play.

That’s when Andrei Svechnikov gave the Canes a 2-1 lead.

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Svechnikov was one of the big guns for the Canes who needed to find the goal column. The other? Sebastian Aho, and he did just that only a few minutes later.

As if things weren’t bad enough for the Golden Knights in the second frame, one of their key players, William Karlsson, exited the game and did not return.

On to the third, where the story continued to be the Golden Knights taking bad penalties, something that is wildly out of character for them.

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This time, it was their captain Mark Stone who clipped Carolina’s Jalen Chatfield with a high stick. Worse yet, he caught him enough to draw blood, earning himself a double minor.

One that the Hurricanes converted with Svechnikov scoring his second of the evening to hand them a 4-1 lead.

If you have watched any of this series, you’ll know that nothing comes easy, and not long after Carolina extended their lead, Dorofeyev potted his second of the game to cut the deficit to two.

Then, in what has happened in just about every game this series, that goal kicked off a feverish Vegas push that resulted in several scoring chances.

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Carolina held on, but with just 2:13 left, Nikolaj Ehlers was whistled for delay-of-game.

Vegas then pulled the goalie to go on a 6-on-4 power play.

The Golden Knights set up and got some great chances, including one for Tomas Hertl who was robbed by Bussi — who had 22 saves on 24 shots — with 80 seconds left in regulation.

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The late penalty kill gave the Canes carte blanche to take 200-foot shots at the empty net, and that helped to bleed time off the clock and help them hang on to that 4-2 lead.

Carolina now leads the series 3-2 as it shifts back to Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, where the Hurricanes will have a chance to clinch their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

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George Pickens reveals true feelings on Jerry Jones’ comments for Cowboys WR over contract extension talks

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens responded to Jerry Jones’ comments about his future with the franchise.

On Tuesday, Jones had high praise for Pickens. He also highlighted the possibility of him playing for the Cowboys for the rest of his NFL career. Pickens expressed his appreciation for those kind words on Thursday.

“Super excited,” Pickens said. “I’m always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shout out to Jerry.”

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The Cowboys acquired George Pickens via a trade with the Steelers in May 2025. In 17 games, he posted an impressive 1,429 yards on 93 receptions and nine touchdowns. There was a lot of chatter about a potential contract extension following his performance.

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However, in February, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag on him. Pickens signed the $27.3 million franchise tag in April. While speaking about the wide receiver, Jerry Jones said that he expects great things from Pickens in 2026.

“He’s a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success,” Jones said. “I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. And how would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? I wish all of that because if that happens, that (would be) good for us.

“This can be a very win-win thing that we’ve done here, us and George being on the team. Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career and that’d be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Pickens with the No. 52 pick in 2022. In three seasons, he recorded 2,841 yards on 174 receptions and 21 TDs.


ALSO READ: “No deadline drama this time”: NFL fans react as George Pickens officially enters July 15 deadline as a franchised player without long-term deal

ALSO READ: George Pickens faces lofty expectations from former WR after officially going through franchise tag extension deadline

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Dak Prescott “excited” to play alongside George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in the 2026 season

Dak Prescott has already built a rapport with CeeDee Lamb over the past few years. Last season, he also built chemistry with George Pickens, providing him with more help on offense.

On Thursday, Prescott was questioned about his strategy heading into Year 2 with Lamb and Pickens by his side.

“It’s exciting. They help me be comfortable,” Prescott said. “Those guys are ridiculous in their ability to get one, ability to win in one-on-one. Right now, it’s just about continuing to communicate about the zones and where they need to be in certain timings. … They’re just a complement to this whole offense.”

The Cowboys play the New York Giants on the road in their season-opener on Sept. 13.