Where The Story Turns
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final features the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes in what promises to be a thrilling series. Both teams bring considerable talent and star power to the matchup.
The Golden Knights advanced after rolling through the Presidents' Trophy winners in the Western Conference Final. Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner lead Vegas with elite playmaking ability, with Marner leading the playoffs with 21 points. The Golden Knights have converted at a 23.9% clip on the power play this postseason.
The Hurricanes reached the Final after going 12-1 through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Sebastian Aho has been an elite two-way center for Carolina, while defenseman Jaccob Slavin is one of three players in the series trying to win a Stanley Cup after taking home Olympic gold in February.
The Stakes In Plain Sight
Goaltending could be a factor. Carter Hart and Frederik Andersen both showed inconsistencies during the regular season, and whether those issues resurface in the Final remains to be seen.
K'Andre Miller, acquired by Carolina from the New York Rangers, has maximized his potential with the Hurricanes, posting a 64.6% expected goals share and a plus-13 goal differential in these playoffs. Pavel Dorofeyev has evolved into a high-end scorer for Vegas with 72 goals over the last two seasons.
Nikolaj Ehlers brings speed that could prove decisive in a series where time and space will be hard to find. Jaccob Slavin eats minutes against top competition and has posted a 57.5% expected goals share over the last three seasons.
The Question Left Open
Shea Theodore dominates his minutes for Vegas while contributing on offense, allowing just 2.32 expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Seth Jarvis has led Carolina in goals for two straight seasons and eclipsed the 30-goal mark in three consecutive years.
Even at 34, Mark Stone remains a strong play driver who can create offense with intelligent defense. The series figures to be closely contested between two talented rosters.