After falling twice in double overtime in Nashville, the Canes bounced back with a 3-2 overtime win of their own in Game 5 at home to take a critical 3-2 series lead. Martin Necas netted two goals in regulation, including the game-tying goal with 7:05 left to play. Jordan Staal then whacked the puck out of mid-air, slipping it through Juuse Saros to win the game just 2:03 into extra time.
Necas, Staal lift Hurricanes to OT victory in Game 5
"It was fun. Overtime, obviously, but at home, especially with what we've gone through the last couple of games, to get a big one like that felt really good," Staal said. "We've still got some work to do, but it felt good."
Numbers to Know
2: Through five games agianst Nashville, the Canes have gotten two-goal games from Staal (Game 1), Sebastian Aho (Game 2), Brock McGinn (Game 4) and Necas (Game 5). This marks the second time in franchise history that the team has gotten multi-goal games from four different players throgh five or fewer games of a playoff series. 66: The Canes posted 66 hits against Nashville in Game 5, marking the team's most hits in any game since the league began tracking the stat in the 2005-06 season. 7-0: The franchise has never lost a playoff series in which it leads 3-2.