ANALYSIS | The Hurricanes and Golden Knights Clash at the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals: How Did We Get Here?

Photo Credit: Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images via Rolling Stone

The Carolina Hurricanes (Canes) are playing the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. As of Jun. 10, the series is currently at 2-1 in favour of the Golden Knights after playing three games. This marks Vegas’ third time representing the West in the finals since the team’s inaugural season in 2017 and Carolina's first Cup final appearance since 2006, which they won against Edmonton.

The Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final in four games to reach the finals. This season, the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season.

On the other hand, the Hurricanes beat the only Canadian team left in the running for the Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens (Habs), in the Eastern Conference final to reach the cup final. The last time a team from Canada won the cup was in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens won.

The Montreal Canadiens started the Stanley Cup Finals with a first-round matchup against the heavily playoff-experienced Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens won the series in seven games. The game-winning goal in game seven was scored by Alex Newhook late in the third period, giving the Canadiens a 2–1 victory over the Lightning, which advanced them to the second round.

The Canadiens – who were, at that point, Canada's lone team in the playoffs – had a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, who were in the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons: the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. The series went to seven games, and game seven was decided in overtime. Montreal came out victorious, and the game-winning goal was once again scored by Alex Newhook at 11:22 of overtime, giving the Habs a 3–2 victory. This goal advanced Montreal to their first Eastern Conference Final since 2014.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes played the Philadelphia Flyers in the other Eastern Conference second-round matchup. The Hurricanes once again swept their opponent, defeating the Flyers in four games. This put Carolina at 8-0 to start the playoffs, which marked the first time any NHL team achieved that stat since 1985.

This victory and Montreal's victory against Buffalo set up a Canes versus Habs matchup in the Eastern Conference Final, with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line. Carolina has been to the Eastern Conference Final four times since they won the cup in 2006, and they had a combined record of one win and 16 losses leading up to this final. This means they got swept three times during those four conference final appearances, and they lost in five games last year to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.

The Habs took game one by a score of 6-2, which included a 10-minute-stretch in the first period where the Habs scored four straight goals. It looked like Carolina’s conference final curse was kicking in, but the Canes rebounded in game two in overtime to even the series. 

Games three and four were played at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Carolina won both games, including an overtime win in game three, to put a stranglehold on the series for the Habs. Game five was played in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Canes hammered the Canadiens by a score of 6-1 to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas, on the other hand, defeated the Utah Mammoth, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado Avalanche to reach the Cup final.

Going into this series, the teams have a lot to be excited about. Knights players Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel came into the Stanley Cup finals with 21 and 18 playoff points, respectively, and are heavy favourites to win the Conn Smythe trophy, which is awarded to the MVP of the playoffs. Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden from the Knights also lead the playoffs in goals scored, coming into the finals with 10 each.

Meanwhile, Carolina’s line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake came into the finals with a combined 43 points across three series in these playoffs.

Carolina also entered the finals with a win record of  12-1 in the playoffs, which can largely be credited to their veteran goaltender Frederik Anderson, who started every game for the Canes and had three shutouts in those 12 wins.

Carolina holds home ice advantage in the series, with game one being played at the Lenovo Centre in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jun. 2. Vegas was able to take that game by a score of 5-4, and forward Tomáš Hertl scored the winning goal with just 3:24 left in the third period, grabbing game one for Vegas.

Game two was played on Jun. 4, and Carolina was able to even the series after an overtime winner scored by Seth Jarvis. The Canes trailed 2–0 with just 10 minutes left in the third period, but they rallied to force overtime and ended up winning 4–3.

Game three was played at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights won 5–4 with the winning goal scored by Shea Theodore in double overtime. The Knights jumped to a 4–0 in the second period with a natural hat-trick being scored by Mitch Marner. Around halfway through the third period, the Hurricanes scored 3 goals in 39 seconds to cut the Vegas lead to one goal. Carolina eventually tied the game late to force overtime, but ultimately fell short.