The 2026 Stanley Cup Final matchup has been set. The Carolina Hurricanes capped off their domination of the Montreal Canadiens with a 6-1 win in Game 5 on Friday, clinching the Eastern Conference title and pushing them through to the Cup Final where they will face the Vegas Golden Knights.
After crushing the Canadiens in almost every aspect in the last four games of the series, Carolina closed things out with a lopsided win. The Hurricanes now enter the Stanley Cup Final with a 12-1 record in the postseason, and their defense has been stifling.
The Canes have allowed just 21 goals in 13 games, and goaltender Frederik Andersen enters the Final as a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
If the Hurricanes have been the best defensive team in these playoffs, then the Vegas Golden Knights have been a close second. Vegas is also coming off the most impressive series by any team in the postseason, sweeping the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.
Mitch Marner has shaken off his past playoff failures to lead all playoff performers with 21 points as his elite two-way game has driven the Golden Knights' success. It also helps that Vegas has gotten a surprising boost in goal from Carter Hart, who has been stellar dating back to the second round.
With two of the best defensive teams in the NHL facing off in the Stanley Cup Final, goals should be hard to come by, and hopefully that creates more drama than we got in either conference finals matchup.
Stanley Cup Final Schedule
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (1) Vegas Golden Knights
- Game 1: Tuesday, June 2 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC
- Game 2: Thursday, June 4 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC
- Game 3: Saturday, June 6 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC
- Game 4: Tuesday, June 9 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC
- *Game 5: Thursday, June 11 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC
- *Game 6: Sunday, June 14 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC
- *Game 7: Wednesday, June 17 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | ABC
*If necessary
Conference Finals Results
Eastern Conference Final
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
- Game 1: Canadiens 6, Hurricanes 2
- Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2
- Game 3: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2
- Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 0
- Game 5: Hurricanes 6, Canadiens 1
Western Conference Final
(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (1) Vegas Golden Knights
- Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 2
- Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Avalanche 1
- Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Avalanche 3
- Game 4: Golden Knights 2, Avalanche 1
Earlier Round Results
Second Round
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers
- Game 1: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 0
- Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Flyers 1
- Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)
(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
- Game 1: Sabres 4, Canadiens 2
- Game 2: Canadiens 5, Sabres 1
- Game 3: Canadiens 6, Sabres 2
- Game 4: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2
- Game 5: Canadiens 6, Sabres 3
- Game 6: Sabres 8, Canadiens 3
- Game 7: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (OT)
(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3) Minnesota Wild
- Game 1: Avalanche 9, Wild 6
- Game 2: Avalanche 5, Wild 2
- Game 3: Wild 5, Avalanche 1
- Game 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 2
- Game 5: Avalanche 4, Wild 3 (OT)
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Anaheim Ducks
- Game 1: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 1
- Game 2: Ducks 3, Golden Knights 1
- Game 3: Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2
- Game 4: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3
- Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
- Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Ducks 1
First Round
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators
- Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Senators 0
- Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2 (2OT)
- Game 3: Hurricanes 2, Senators 1
- Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Senators 2
(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers
- Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2
- Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0