Jesper Fast scores on OT deflection as Hurricanes eliminate Devils in Game 5

Jesper Fast deflected in a shot by Jesperi Kotkaniemi on a power play at 7:09 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a series-ending 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

In the first tight game of the second-round matchup, Fast made amends for when he popped a puck over the goal in front of an open net in the first period. It also came on the power play after New Jersey's Jonas Siegenthaler was sent to the box for a delay-of-game penalty for sending a puck out of play from his own zone.

"I know that he was shaking his head in the first period," Carolina defenceman Jaccob Slavin said, "but to get it in the end is awesome for him."

Slavin and Brent Burns also scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen made 27 saves.

Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier scored for New Jersey. Schmid stopped 36 shots.

This marks Carolina's first trip to the Eastern Conference final since 2019. The Hurricanes will face the winner of the Florida-Toronto series, with the Panthers leading that one 3-1.

The first four games of the series had been filled by lopsided results, with each decided by at least four goals and a starting goaltender chased early. Carolina won the first two games at home by an 11-2 margin, then shook off a Game 3 loss by blowing things open in the second period for a 6-1 road win Tuesday in Game 4.

This time, they needed a dramatic finish to avoid a repeat.

The Devils' exit comes in a season where a young group arrived to post-season contention earlier than expected.

New Jersey finished one point behind the Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division for the league's third-best point total (112) and the franchise's first playoff appearance in five years, then pushed past the rival New York Rangers in seven games despite falling behind 0-2 for its first playoff series win since 2012.

"We knew we had to play better and I think the whole team bought in," Devils captain Nico Hischier said. "The effort was there and we had our chances."

Stars push Kraken to brink of elimination

Roope Hintz had two goals and had an assist, Joe Pavelski scored his seventh goal of the second-round series and the Dallas Stars beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 in Game 5 on Thursday night to move within a victory of the Western Conference finals.

Dallas will take a 3-2 lead into Game 6 on Saturday in Seattle, where the teams split a pair of lopsided games. The Kraken won 7-2 in Game 3, then the Stars rebounded with a 6-3 win in Game 4.

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger had 29 saves.

When Pavelski scored on a backhander in the opening minute of the second period, knocking in his own rebound, that put the Stars up 3-0. His 71st career post-season extended his record for U.S.-born players.

Pavelski matched Sidney Crosby for the second-most career playoff goals by an active player, one behind Alex Ovechkin. Pavelski and Crosby are tied with Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier for 17th on the overall list.

Hintz has eight goals and 10 assist in the Stars' 11 games this post-season. Pavelski missed the last five games in their first-round series against Minnesota while in concussion protocol after a hit in Game 1.

When Pavelski returned in the opener against the Kraken, he scored all four of Dallas' goals in a 5-4 overtime loss.

Rookie center Wyatt Johnston also scored for the Stars, who are hoping to repeat the pattern from their opening-round series against Minnesota. They also lost that opener in overtime at home and were down 2-1 in the series before winning three in a row and wrapping up with a road win.

Adam Larsson and Jared McCann scored for Seattle in the second period.