Hurricanes clinch Stanley Cup Final berth after loss

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, playing through profound personal loss, backstopped his team to a series-clinching victory Friday night, securing a berth in the Stanley Cup Final. The 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, advanced the Hurricanes to the championship series for the first time since 2006, capping an emotionally charged week for the veteran netminder.

The victory came just days after the death of Claude Lemieux, Andersen’s longtime agent, mentor, and a figure he considered family. Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, died earlier in the week at age 60. Before the decisive Game 5, the Hurricanes held a moment of remembrance for the NHL legend.

Andersen, visibly emotional after the final horn, made 23 saves in the win. He described the preceding days as difficult but praised the support from his teammates and the organization. When asked what Lemieux’s advice would be with the Stanley Cup Final ahead, Andersen’s answer was immediate: “Just go get it.”

The 36-year-old goaltender’s performance was a testament to his focus amid grief. Just two days prior, he had posted...