Hurricanes use stifling defense to
blank Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 and win the Stanley Cup
[June 15, 2026]
By MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup
Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a
high-scoring game that didn't fit the Hurricanes' typical style.
But when it came down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the
Hurricanes' defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the
Vegas Golden Knights and not letting up.
The Hurricanes held Vegas to five 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.
“That’s a lot of years,” said Carolina center Jordan Staal, who
received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. “It’s amazing. This
is something I’ve been going after ever since we got the first one.
You want to win it again and again and again. "
Brandon Bussi, whose entrance late in Game 3 helped turn around the
series, had his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots.
Jackson Blake had a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just
3:47 into the game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an
empty-netter.
“Your mind wanders the last couple of days and wonder what it may be
like out here (on ice after winning) and it’s better than I could
have expected," Hall said.
The Golden Knights struggled badly to muster any kind of offense in
Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal in the second and third
periods. Playing in their third Cup final, this is the first time
they have been shut out.
This final game was what many observers expected the series to be
like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads
of two-plus goals disappear in the first three games.
Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind'Amour,
who also captained Carolina to its 2006 title.
“It's just as awesome,” Brind'Amour said. “But as a player, it was a
little different. I worked and dreamt of winning the Cup my whole
life, so that was like a piano came off my back. This time around, I
wanted it for the group."
This was the first game of the series that Vegas goalie Carter Hart
didn't allow four goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.
The Hurricanes began to assume control of the series after falling
behind by the score of 4-0 in Game 3. They came back force overtime,
and though the Canes lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from
there on out.
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.
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.
“This is tough to be on this side of it,” Golden Knights defenseman
Brayden McNabb said. “But on the other side, these chances don’t
come around very often. So it stings."
This title is a testament to Carolina’s resilience as a franchise
that kept coming close to winning the Eastern Conference, but
couldn’t quite get through until now.
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The Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after a win over the Vegas Golden
Knights in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against
the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP
Photo/John Locher)
Brind’Amour made sure the Hurricanes kept getting
back up after losing in the conference final twice in the past three
years and three times in their current eight-year playoff run. The
talent was clearly there, but there was always a stumbling block.
Not anymore.
After dispatching Montreal in five games to make the final, the
Hurricanes then faced perennial power Vegas and took care of
business there, too. Now, Brind’Amour will get his name on the Cup
for the second time.
So will 37-year-old Staal, who also won the title in 2009 with
Pittsburgh. He planted himself in front of Hart and dared the Golden
Knights to knock him out of the way. Staal scored in each of the
first five Cup final games, the first time that has happened.
The Hurricanes got off to a fast start with a goal just 25 seconds
into Game 1, only to lose 5-4 on a late goal from Tomas Hertl. And
the Golden Knights were on the verge of taking complete control as
minutes ticked down in Game 2 while holding a 2-0 lead and appearing
as if they would take a two-game advantage back home.
Then, it all changed. Carolina showed a fight that not only brought
the Hurricanes back into the series by rallying to win 4-3 in
overtime on Seth Jarvis’ one-timer, but would serve as their
signature throughout the series.
That was especially true the following game when the Golden Knights
took a 4-0 lead into the third period and the Canes seemed to have
no answers. Brind’Amour even appeared to wave the white flag by
removing goalie Frederik Andersen and replacing him with Bussi.
But the Hurricanes weren’t simply trying to get to Game 4. They sent
a message, going on a remarkable rally to force overtime. Though
Carolina lost, it was inflection point, with Bussi backstopping a
team that was only growing stronger. Carolina then went on to win
the next two games and moved within a victory of the championship.
The Hurricanes got it done against the Golden Knights team that was
on a heater after John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with eight
games left in the regular season. Vegas then went from third in the
Pacific Division to first, knocked off Utah and Anaheim in six games
apiece in the playoffs and shockingly swept Presidents’
Trophy-winning Colorado to win the West.
“I am very proud to be a part of this organization, very proud to
lead this team, very proud to play with every single guy that steps
into our locker room,” Vegas captain Mark Stone said. “This feeling
sucks. I never want to have it again."
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