The Carolina Hurricanes are forty minutes away from the Stanley Cup Final.
Through the first period of Friday’s Eastern Conference Final Game 5, Carolina holds a 3-0 lead over the Montreal Canadiens.
Carolina leads the series 3-1, with the winner advancing to play the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
Montreal got an early chance on the power play, as Game 3 hero Andrei Svechnikov took a tripping penalty just over two minutes into the game, though the Canadiens couldn’t capitalize.
It would be the Hurricanes striking first, as Taylor Hall found the back of the net to open the scoring midway through the frame.
After a failed Canadiens challenge attempt, it would be Carolina’s turn to head to the power play, though they couldn’t cash in on the advantage either.
Nearly six minutes later, however, the Hurricanes did capitalize. After snagging an assist on the game’s opening goal, it would be Logan Stankoven’s turn to light the lamp, doubling the team’s lead.
Carolina wouldn’t be done there, however, as just two minutes later, Eric Robinson’s third of the playoffs would also be the Hurricanes’ third goal of the period, as the team would take a 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The home team dominated the first period with a 15-4 shots on goal advantage.
