2026 Stanley Cup Final

Carolina Hurricanes

This was the third Stanley Cup Final for Carolina. Their first appearance in 2002 was a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in five games. They won the Stanley Cup during their second appearance in 2006, where they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.^[2]

During the offseason, Carolina traded Scott Morrow and two picks to the New York Rangers for defenceman K'Andre Miller.^[3] They also picked up forward Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency.^[4] Finally, they re-signed Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake each to eight-year contracts.^[5][6] Prior to the start of the season, they picked up goaltender Brandon Bussi on waivers from the Florida Panthers, signing him to a three-year contract later in the season.^[7] Sebastian Aho led the team in scoring with 80 points.^[8]

The Hurricanes finished first in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference with 113 points via a 53–22–7 record. In the playoffs, the Hurricanes completed back-to-back four-game sweeps against the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in the first and second rounds.^[9] In their second consecutive Eastern Conference final, they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in five games. The Hurricanes entered the Final with one loss in the postseason, the fewest since the 1975–76 Montreal Canadiens.^[10]

Vegas Golden Knights

This was the third Stanley Cup Final appearance for the Golden Knights. Their first appearance came during their inaugural season in 2018, in which they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.^[11] Their only Stanley Cup victory comes in 2023, where they defeated the Florida Panthers in five games.^[12]

During the offseason, the Golden Knights traded for defenceman Jérémy Lauzon and forward Colton Sissons from the Nashville Predators.^[13] They also acquired forward Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who was signed to an eight-year contract prior to his trade.^[14] After three seasons away from the Golden Knights, including two with Carolina, defenseman Dylan Coghlan returned for a second stint on a one-year contract.^[15] They additionally re-signed forwards Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith to one-year contracts.^[16] Forward Jack Eichel was then signed to an eight-year extension closer to the start of the season.^[17] At the start of the season, they signed free agent goaltender Carter Hart, who had been acquitted of his charges in the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal.^[18] During the season, the team traded for defenceman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames.^[19] At the trade deadline, they acquired forwards Cole Smith and Nic Dowd from the Predators and Washington Capitals, respectively.^[20][21] On March 29, they fired head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games remaining in the season, replacing him with John Tortorella.^[22] Jack Eichel led the team in scoring with 90 points.^[23]

The Golden Knights finished first in the Pacific Division with 95 points via a 39–26–17 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Utah Mammoth in six games in the first round.^[24] They then defeated the Anaheim Ducks in six games in the second round to reach their fifth Western Conference final in nine seasons.^[25] In the Western Conference final, they defeated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in a four game-sweep.^[26]

Game one

In game one, forward Nikolaj Ehlers began the scoring for Carolina in the first period, with the first shot for the Hurricanes giving them a 1–0 lead. Ehlers then gave Carolina a 2–0 lead, scoring five-hole on goaltender Carter Hart on a breakaway.^[27] Shea Theodore cut Carolina's lead in half as he fired a wrist shot past the defencemen and goaltender Frederik Andersen.^[27] In the second period, Ivan Barbashev scored to tie the game 2–2. After a offensive-zone faceoff, Mitch Marner made a pass to William Karlsson who scored, giving Vegas a 3–2 lead. Carolina captain Jordan Staal later tied the game 3–3, firing a wrist shot past Hart.^[27] In the third period, the Golden Knights regained the lead with Howden's tip-in goal.^[27] Shayne Gostisbehere tied the game 4–4 for the Hurricanes as a controversial icing call gave them an offensive zone faceoff, and as the Golden Knights attempted to tip the puck away, Gostibehere picked up the loose puck and scored.^[27] With 3:24 left in the game Tomáš Hertl scored to give Vegas a 5–4 lead, which they hung onto for the victory.^[28]

Game two

In the first period of game two, Mitch Marner lobbed the puck out of the Vegas defensive zone and Brett Howden picked up the puck and scored to give the Golden Knights a 1–0 lead.^[30] After an unsuccessful power play for the Golden Knights in the second period, Howden scored again receiving assists from Ivan Barbashev and Noah Hanifin.^[31] In the third period, the Hurricanes cut Vegas's lead to one as Logan Stankoven scored an unassisted goal, shooting the puck and deflecting past goaltender Carter Hart.^[32] They tied the game just over two minutes later as William Carrier passed the puck to Mark Jankowski whose wrist shot got past Hart.^[33] With five minutes remaining in the game, the referee blew the whistle to stop play though the puck went into the Carolina net. Vegas challenged the play that no goaltender interference occurred to cause the whistle stoppage. The challenge was unsuccessful. On the ensuing power play, Carolina defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere shot the puck through traffic and Jordan Staal deflected the puck into the net, erasing the two-goal deficit to lead 3–2.^[34] With an empty net and an extra attacker for Vegas, Mark Stone scored to tie the game 3–3, sending it to overtime.^[35] In overtime, Tomáš Hertl took a tripping penalty and on the Carolina power play, Seth Jarvis scored to give the Hurricanes a 4–3 victory.^[36]

Game three

Mitch Marner (left), shown with Toronto, scored a hat trick, while Shea Theodore (right) scored the double-overtime game-winning goal for Vegas in game three.

The first period of game three remained scoreless with the shots favoring Carolina 7–2. In the second period, two goals by Vegas were challenged, first for an offside call and the second on goaltender interference. Both resulted in the goals being called back. The Hurricanes took a "too many on the ice" penalty, and on the power play for Vegas, Tomáš Hertl scored. Mitch Marner then scored as his shot was deflected off of a Carolina player's stick.^[38] Marner scored his second goal less than four minutes later, shooting the puck on his backhand past goaltender Frederik Andersen.^[39] Marner completed the hat trick as his third goal came from a slap shot.^[40] His hat trick goal was the fastest in Stanley Cup Final history, scoring all three goals within 6:10.^[41] The Hurricanes pulled Andersen after the end of the second period, opting to put in backup goaltender Brandon Bussi. Marner had a chance to make it 5–0 on a penalty shot, but was stopped by Bussi. The Hurricanes broke the shutout as they scored three goals within 39 seconds to cut the deficit to one goal. Jordan Martinook scored first firing a wrist shot past Carter Hart.^[42] Taylor Hall scored second as Sebastian Aho sent a backhand pass to Hall scoring to put it to 4–2.^[43] Captain Jordan Staal then scored off a face-off, making the score 4–3 for Vegas.^[44] With 1:42 left in the game, on the power play, Andrei Svechnikov scored to tie the game 4–4. The game went into the double-overtime period, wherein Shea Theodore scored to give Vegas a 5–4 victory and spoil Carolina's comeback.^[45]

Game four

Carolina started the scoring in game four, with Logan Stankoven scoring 1:02 into the first period. Jackson Blake made it 2–0 for Carolina just as the Golden Knights' penalty expired, accepting a pass from Taylor Hall and firing the puck into the net.^[47] Vegas captain Mark Stone put Vegas on the board, faking a slap shot and tucking the puck behind goaltender Brandon Bussi.^[48] Later in the first period, Vegas was given a penalty for too many men on the ice; Carolina captain Jordan Staal then scored to make it 3–1.^[49] Brayden McNabb attempted a buzzer-beater, putting the puck into the net just as the first period ended, but on video replay the goal was waived off as it had not completely crossed the line prior to the time expiration.^[50] In the second period, William Karlsson scored Vegas's second goal of the game, taking a pass from Rasmus Andersson firing a wrist shot past Bussi.^[51] The Golden Knights tied up the score 3–3 during a two-on-one rush led by Colton Sissons and Brett Howden, the latter of which scored.^[52] In the third period, Vegas gave up the puck in their defensive zone, and while falling down, Staal scored to give the Hurricanes the lead once more, making it 4–3.^[53] Nikolaj Ehlers made it 5–3 with an empty net goal, tying up the series 2–2.^[54]

Game five

In game five, Vegas started the scoring on the power play. As Carolina forward Nikolaj Ehlers was in the penalty box for shooting the puck over the glass, Pavel Dorofeyev scored for the Golden Knights to make it 1–0. Carolina tied it 1–1 later in the first period as Ehlers passed the puck to captain Jordan Staal who shot the puck past goaltender Carter Hart.^[56] Carolina gained the lead in the second period. As the Hurricanes were on the power play, Andrei Svechnikov scored to make it 2–1. Sebastian Aho then made it 3–1 with Sean Walker and Jordan Martinook both assisting. In the third period, the Hurricanes made it 4–1 on the power play as Shayne Gostisbehere passed to an open Ehlers who spun around and backhanded the puck to Svechnikov who scored.^[57] The Golden Knights cut the deficit to two goals as Dorofeyev scored his second of the game off of a rebound created by Shea Theodore. However, the Hurricanes stopped the remaining chances by Vegas to go up 3–2 in the series.^[58]

Game six

Brandon Bussi (left), shown with the Providence Bruins, recorded a shutout, while Taylor Hall (right), shown with Edmonton, scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for Carolina in game six.

In game six, Carolina defenceman Jaccob Slavin dished a long pass to Taylor Hall who scored to give the Hurricanes a 1–0 lead.^[60] Goaltender Brandon Bussi kept the Hurricanes at a 1–0 lead through the first period, stopping 11 shots from the Golden Knights. In the second period, the Hurricanes made it 2–0 with Jackson Blake scoring. The Golden Knights were held to three shots for the remainder of the period. In the third period, the Golden Knights pulled their goaltender, but Nikolaj Ehlers sealed Carolina's Stanley Cup victory with an empty net goal to make it 3–0.^[61]

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs.^[61] Rod Brind'Amour also became the first person to win the Stanley Cup as both a former player and coach for the same team since Toe Blake in 1956.^[62]

Vegas Golden Knights

More information #, Nat ...

#	Nat	Player[64]	Position	Hand	Age	Acquired	Place of birth	Final appearance
4		Rasmus Andersson	D	R	29	2026	Malmo, Sweden	first
49		Ivan Barbashev	C	L	30	2023	Moscow, Russia	third (2019, 2023)
42		Braeden Bowman	RW	R	22	2025	Kitchener, Ontario	first
52		Dylan Coghlan	D	R	28	2025	Duncan, British Columbia	first
16		Pavel Dorofeyev	RW	L	25	2019	Nizhny Tagil, Russia	first
26		Nic Dowd	C	R	36	2026	Huntsville, Alabama	first
9		Jack Eichel – A	C	R	29	2021	North Chelmsford, Massachusetts	second (2023)
15		Noah Hanifin	D	L	29	2024	Boston, Massachusetts	first
79		Carter Hart	G	L	27	2025	Sherwood Park, Alberta	first
48		Tomas Hertl	C	L	32	2024	Prague, Czech Republic	second (2016)
33		Adin Hill	G	L	30	2022	Comox, British Columbia	second (2023)
21		Brett Howden	C	L	28	2021	Oakbank, Manitoba	second (2023)
17		Ben Hutton	D	L	33	2021	Brockville, Ontario	second (2023)
71		William Karlsson – A	C	L	33	2017	Märsta, Sweden	third (2018, 2023)
55		Keegan Kolesar	RW	R	29	2017	Brandon, Manitoba	second (2023)
6		Kaedan Korczak	D	R	25	2019	Yorkton, Saskatchewan	first
5		Jeremy Lauzon	D	L	29	2025	Val-d'Or, Quebec	first
93		Mitch Marner	RW	R	29	2025	Markham, Ontario	first
3		Brayden McNabb	D	L	35	2017	Davidson, Saskatchewan	third (2018, 2023)
20		Brandon Saad	LW	L	33	2025	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	third (2013, 2015)
40		Akira Schmid	G	L	26	2024	Bern, Switzerland	first
10		Colton Sissons	C	R	32	2025	North Vancouver, British Columbia	second (2017)
22		Cole Smith	RW	L	30	2026	Brainerd, Minnesota	first
19		Reilly Smith	RW	L	35	2025	Etobicoke, Ontario	third (2018, 2023)
61		Mark Stone – C	RW	R	34	2019	Winnipeg, Manitoba	second (2023)
27		Shea Theodore	D	L	30	2017	Langley, British Columbia	third (2018, 2023)

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Carolina Hurricanes

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#	Nat	Player[65]	Position	Hand	Age	Acquired	Place of birth	Final appearance
20		Sebastian Aho – A	C	L	28	2015	Rauma, Finland	first
31		Frederik Andersen	G	L	36	2021	Herning, Denmark	first
53		Jackson Blake	RW	R	22	2021	Fargo, North Dakota	first
32		Brandon Bussi	G	R	27	2025	Sound Beach, New York	first
28		William Carrier	LW	L	31	2024	LaSalle, Quebec	third (2018, 2023)
5		Jalen Chatfield	D	R	30	2021	Ypsilanti, Michigan	first
44		Nicolas Deslauriers	LW	L	35	2026	LaSalle, Quebec	first
27		Nikolaj Ehlers	LW	L	30	2025	Aalborg, Denmark	first
4		Shayne Gostisbehere	D	L	33	2024	Pembroke Pines, Florida	first
71		Taylor Hall	LW	L	30	2025	Calgary, Alberta	first
77		Mark Jankowski	C	L	31	2025	Hamilton, Ontario	first
24		Seth Jarvis	C	R	24	2020	Winnipeg, Manitoba	first
52		Pyotr Kochetkov	G	L	26	2019	Penza, Russia	first
82		Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	L	25	2021	Pori, Finland	second (2021)
48		Jordan Martinook – A	LW	L	33	2018	Brandon, Manitoba	first
19		K'Andre Miller	D	R	26	2025	St. Paul, Minnesota	first
21		Alexander Nikishin	D	L	24	2020	Oryol, Russia	first
6		Mike Reilly	D	R	32	2025	Chicago, Illinois	first
50		Eric Robinson	LW	L	30	2024	Bellmawr, New Jersey	first
74		Jaccob Slavin – A	D	L	32	2012	Erie, Colorado	first
11		Jordan Staal – C	C	L	37	2012	Thunder Bay, Ontario	third (2008, 2009)
22		Logan Stankoven	C	R	23	2025	Kamloops, British Columbia	first
37		Andrei Svechnikov	RW	L	26	2018	Barnaul, Russia	first
26		Sean Walker	D	R	31	2024	Keswick, Ontario	first

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Engraving notes

• #6 Mike Reilly (D) played in 42 regular season games and two playoff games (all in the second round).
• #82 Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C) played in 42 regular season games and no playoff games.
• #52 Pyotr Kochetkov (G) played in 9 regular season games and no playoff games, but dressed for three Cup Final games. Kochetkov also appeared in three regular-season games for the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
• #44 Nicolas Deslauriers (W) played in seven regular season game and one playoff game (in the first round), previously playing 24 regular season games for Philadelphia. He did not automatically qualify.
• #64 Joel Nyström (D) played in 38 regular season games and no playoff games, also appearing in 37 regular season games for AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves. He did not play in or dress for the playoffs and was left off the Stanley Cup engraving because he did not qualify.^[a]