Carolina\u00a0spent the primary a part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to beat deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn\u2019t fit the\u00a0Hurricanes\u2019 typical style.<\/p>\n
But when it got here right down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the\u00a0Hurricanes\u2019 defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the Vegas Golden Knights and never letting up.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Hurricanes\u00a0held Vegas to 5 total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout Sunday night in Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a whole lot of years,\u201d said\u00a0Carolina\u00a0center Jordan Staal, who received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing. That is something I\u2019ve been going after ever since we got the primary one. You wish to win it many times and again. \u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon Bussi, whose entrance late in Game 3 helped turn across the series, had his first profession playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots. Jackson Blake had a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the sport to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-netter.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYour mind wanders the last couple of days and wonder what it could be like out here (on ice after winning) and it\u2019s higher than I could have expected,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n
The Golden Knights struggled badly to muster any type of offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal within the second and third periods. Playing of their third Cup final, that is the primary time they’ve been shut out.<\/p>\n
This final game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but either side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the primary three games.<\/p>\n
Now, the Cup belongs to the\u00a0Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour, who also captained\u00a0Carolina\u00a0to its 2006 title.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just as awesome,\u201d Brind\u2019Amour said. \u201cBut as a player, it was a bit of different. I worked and dreamt of winning the Cup my whole life, in order that was like a piano got here off my back. This time around, I wanted it for the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This was the primary game of the series that Vegas goalie Carter Hart didn\u2019t allow 4 goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tCarolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) lifts the Stanley Cup after a win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\t\t\t\t\t(AP Photo\/Candice Ward)\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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The\u00a0Hurricanes\u00a0began to assume control of the series after falling behind by the rating of 4-0 in Game 3. They got here back force extra time, and though the Canes lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from there on out.<\/p>\n
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Reflecting the do-or-die situation for the Golden Knights, they made several lineup changes, with Brett Howden replacing the injured William Karlsson at second-line center. Mitch Marner could have moved there, but remained at right wing.<\/p>\n
Original Golden Knight Reilly Smith made his Cup final debut at third-line right wing, and Braeden Bowman made his playoff debut at fourth-line right wing. Kaedan Korczak replaced Dylan Coghlan on the third defensive pairing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is hard to be on this side of it,\u201d Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said. \u201cBut on the opposite side, these possibilities don\u2019t come around fairly often. So it stings.\u201d<\/p>\n
This title is a testament to Carolina\u2019s resilience as a franchise that kept coming near winning the Eastern Conference, but couldn\u2019t quite get through until now.<\/p>\n
Brind\u2019Amour made sure the\u00a0Hurricanes\u00a0kept getting back up after losing within the conference final twice previously three years and thrice of their current eight-year playoff run. The talent was clearly there, but there was at all times a stumbling block.<\/p>\n
Not anymore.<\/p>\n
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