Hurricanes honor – The Carolina Hurricanes marked the death of four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, who died at 60, ahead of their Friday, May 29, playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens as the series sits at 3-1.
The Carolina Hurricanes walked into Friday night’s playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens with a memory on the ice.
The team paid tribute to Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup winner who died on Thursday at the age of 60. Before the Friday, May 29, matchup, the Hurricanes pointed to his “lasting legacy,” honoring the opponent whose career is tightly woven into two of hockey’s defining eras.
Lemieux began his Stanley Cup run with Montreal. He won his first championship with the Canadiens in 1986, scoring 10 goals as a rookie, including four game-winners. His time with the franchise also included a moment in recent memory for Canadiens fans: he had taken part in the Canadiens’ torch-bearing ceremony before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
After Montreal, Lemieux’s winning ways followed him to new homes. He went on to win three more Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils—twice—and the Colorado Avalanche. In 1995, he earned playoff MVP honors with the Devils.
His connection to Carolina extended beyond the matchup itself. Lemieux’s son, Brendan, played for the Hurricanes. He was also the agent for Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen, linking his influence to a current roster built for a deep run.
That personal history landed on a night with a familiar edge for the Hurricanes. They lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006 with a win in Game 5. The Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Western Conference finals, will await the winner.
In the middle of those stakes. the tribute served as a reminder that the playoffs aren’t just about momentum and matchups—they’re also carried by the people who shaped the league long before this series started. Lemieux’s name. and the path his career took from Montreal to New Jersey to Colorado. followed the Hurricanes into a moment that could change their season.
Claude Lemieux Carolina Hurricanes Montreal Canadiens NHL playoffs Stanley Cup Game 5 Frederik Andersen Brendan Lemieux New Jersey Devils Colorado Avalanche
Rip Claude Lemieux. Hockey really is a family thing.
Wait so he played for the Canadiens AND the Devils? That’s kinda wild. Still though I don’t see how honoring him changes a 3-1 series lol.
I thought Claude Lemieux was like a coach or something, not a player, my bad. But if his son is on the Hurricanes then that’s probably why they’re winning, right? Like destiny or whatever.
Honestly these tributes always feel like a distraction. If they’re up 3-1, just close it out. Also I saw somewhere he died Thursday, but how fast does the league even do all this stuff? Seems way too quick, idk.