Just two teams remain in the NHL playoffs as the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will meet in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Both teams rolled through the conference finals, but there should be more fireworks in the final.
After going 12-1 in the first three rounds, the Hurricanes are in their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006, when they won the first championship in franchise history. Carolina’s defense has been its calling card in the postseason, but that was not the case in Game 1 against Vegas. The Golden Knights lit up the Hurricanes in a 5-4 victory to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Golden Knights, fresh off sweeping the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, went into Raleigh and silence a raucous crowd. Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with under four minutes remaining in regulation, and Shea Theodore provided plenty of offense from the defense with a goal and two assists.
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026: Bracket, scores and schedule as Hurricanes face Golden Knights in Stanley Cup Final
Austin Nivison
In his first season with the Golden Knights, Mitch Marner has had an enormous impact, and he kept that up in Game 1. Not only did he have a beautiful assist on William Karlsson’s goal, but he also had what might have been a game-saving shot block with just seconds to go as the Hurricanes were pushing to tie.
As the Stanley Cup Final begins, here is the full schedule and broadcast information.
2026 Stanley Cup Final schedule
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (1) Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4 | Recap
Game 2: Thursday, June 4 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
Game 3: Saturday, June 6 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
Game 4: Tuesday, June 9 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
*Game 5: Thursday, June 11 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
*Game 6: Sunday, June 14 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
*Game 7: Wednesday, June 17 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC, streaming on Fubo (Try for free)
