The Hurricanes are a game away from winning the Stanley Cup, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov wins the Hart Trophy, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requests a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from winning the Stanley Cup after holding off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (NHL Images)
Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals, Sebastian Aho tallied the game-winner, Nikolaj Ehlers had three assists, Jordan Staal scored to extend his goal streak to five games, and Brandon Bussi made 23 saves for the Hurricanes.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored both goals for the Golden Knights.
The series returns to Las Vegas for Game 6 on Sunday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Hurricanes’ best game of this series, and the Golden Knights’ worst.
The Hurricanes struggled in the second period of the previous four games in this series, but they dominated the frame in this contest with Svechnikov and Aho scoring big goals.
Svechnikov and Aho were under scrutiny entering this game over their lack of production in this series. With the pressure on, they silenced their critics and delivered for their club.
Staal is having a Stanley Cup Final for the ages. He leads all scorers in this series with six goals, becoming the first player since Jean Beliveau in 1956 to score five goals in the first five Stanley Cup Final games. Maurice Richard (1951) and Cyclone Taylor (1918) are the only other players to do it.
The Golden Knights’ penalty kill was their undoing in this game. They also lost two-way center William Karlsson in the second period with an injured left arm that could sideline him for the remainder of this series.
Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella remains confident that his club will bounce back in Game 6. He guaranteed that his club will send this series back to Raleigh for Game 7.
NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is the 2025-26 winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his team. It’s the second time he’s taken home the Hart, doing so in 2018-19. He finished second among NHL scorers this season with 130 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The voting was close for the Hart this year, with Kucherov garnering 1,436 votes while Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had 1,426 votes. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was third with 1,297 votes.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman and Mark Spector report sources say that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has requested a trade.
Nurse, 31, is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $9.25 million. He also has a full no-movement clause. He’s reportedly submitted a list of three to five preferred destinations to Oilers management.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nurse has been a whipping boy for Oilers fans and some Edmonton pundits because his performance never reached the standard expected of a defenseman with his expensive contract. He’s not a bad player, but he’s overpaid for what he brings to the game.
Those factors could make it difficult for the Oilers to find a suitable trade partner for Nurse. It also raises the question of whether this is the beginning of the end of this version of the Oilers, which struggled to make the playoffs this season and was upset in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks.
I’ll have more about Nurse’s trade request in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche president and acting general manager Joe Sakic still believes his club remains a Stanley Cup contender despite being swept from the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sakic pointed to the Avalanche’s strong regular-season performance, winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. He also indicated that head coach Jared Bednar will return behind the bench, and hinted at the possibility of a contract extension.
Superstar defenseman Cale Makar is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1. Sakic said the 27-year-old blueliner “is going to finish his career” with Colorado. He said he’s confident that a new contract will be worked out at some point.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sakic’s belief that his team’s season was derailed by “one bad week” isn’t sitting well with Troy Renck of The Denver Post. He thinks that Bednar’s system is no longer effective in the postseason, adding that the roster is getting older and must get younger and tougher.
TORONTO STAR: Former NHL forward Joe Pavelski acknowledged that he’s in the running to become head coach of the Maple Leafs. He’s made it to the short list of candidates despite never coaching at the pro level. Former New York Islanders bench boss Patrick Roy is also believed to be on that list.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has joined the Kraken as vice president and assistant GM.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens must find a new head coach for their AHL affiliate in Laval, as Pascal Vincent will serve as an assistant coach with the Kraken.