Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella gave a three-word remark to the media ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. After arriving in Raleigh, Vegas is slated to take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, with the series tied 2-2.

In the pregame press conference on Wednesday, Tortorella was questioned whether the series matched his expectations.

“I don’t think anybody expected this, but that’s playoffs," the 67-year-old responded to the reporter. "Expect the unexpected.”

With both teams exchanging blows across the series, Tortorella's measured response seems fitting.

Tortorella also appeared to ease the pregame nerves after the unexpected trajectory of the first four games.

When the veteran coach was asked about the challenge of playing at the Lenovo Center after two previous home games, he gave a curt response.

“I don’t care where we play. “I think we have a really good team, and it doesn’t matter where we play," Tortorella remarked. "We’re trying to get better each and every game. It doesn’t matter which building we’re in.”

Across the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final, Vegas and Carolina have beaten each other once on the road.

What Has Happened Across the First Four Games in the Stanley Cup Final?

In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Vegas defeated Carolina 5-4 at the Lenovo Center. Forward Tomas Hertl scored a relatively late winner with just 3:34 left on the clock in the third period, to give his team an early 1-0 lead in the series.

Game 2 evened the series, as the Golden Knights went 2-0 up in the second period before the Hurricanes made it 3-2 in the third period. Vegas captain Mark Stone stepped in the crunch moment and leveled it at 3-3 for the visitors with just 1:21 remaining.

Carolina winger Seth Jarvis clinched it for his team at 3:56 in the first period of overtime.

With the series level at 1-1, both teams clashed at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They began by serving up a double overtime classic on June 6.

The Golden Knights raced to a 4-0 lead with four quick goals in the second period,  including the fastest hat trick in Cup Final history, scored by winger Mitch Marner in 6:10.

Against all odds, the Hurricanes scored four goals in the third period to make it 4-4. Notably, three of those goals came in just 39 seconds, the fastest to such a milestone.

But ultimately, in the second period of overtime, defenseman Shea Theodore scored to secure a 5-4 win for Vegas, giving them a 2-1 lead in the series.

On June 9, Carolina came roaring back with a 5-3 victory in the Stanley Cup Final, their first on the road, to once again level the series.

Who will win Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final Series, Vegas or Carolina? Share with us your prediction in the comments.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Sijo Paul