- 1 Twenty years later, the Hurricanes are back with the Stanley Cup
- 2 The final changed shape as the games went on
- 3 Game 3 changed everything
- 4 Jordan Staal gets his reward after a long career
- 5 Rod Brind’Amour moves further into the history books
- 6 Eric Tulsky’s work has finally paid off
- 7 Vegas falls one step short
- 8 A franchise that never stopped believing
Twenty years later, the Hurricanes are back with the Stanley Cup
It took two decades for Carolina to get back to celebrating a title. In the night from Sunday to Monday, the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the final and claimed the second Stanley Cup in franchise history. A win that takes it straight back to 2006, when the club lifted the trophy for the first time.
At the final buzzer, the emotions hit fast. Rod Brind’Amour, who captained the title-winning side 20 years ago, was the one lifting the trophy this time as coach. A powerful image for a man who has been part of the Hurricanes project for years.
The final changed shape as the games went on
The first few games in this series delivered a spectacle a long way from what you’d expect from two teams known for being so hard to crack. The goals kept coming, leads disappeared, and neither side looked capable of putting the lid on the other.
Then, bit by bit, the final swung Carolina’s way. The Hurricanes found what has defined them for several seasons: a defensive structure that is brutally difficult to break down. Vegas, who had shown plenty of fight since the start of the Playoffs, found itself increasingly stifled going forward.
In the decisive game, the Golden Knights spent long stretches looking for answers and getting nowhere near threatening Brandon Bussi. The Hurricanes goaltender stopped all 22 shots he faced and posted the first shutout of his playoff career.
Game 3 changed everything
Just a few days earlier, nothing suggested this ending. Trailing 4-0 in Game 3, Carolina looked on the ropes. Rod Brind’Amour then sent Brandon Bussi onto the ice in place of Frederik Andersen, a move that looked more like a nod to the next game than a serious comeback push.
And yet the Hurricanes refused to fold. They clawed their way back and even dragged Vegas into overtime. Even in defeat, that night changed the series. From there, the momentum flipped. The Hurricanes then won three straight to finish the job and deny the Golden Knights another title.
Jordan Staal gets his reward after a long career
At 37, Jordan Staal adds a second Stanley Cup to his haul. Already a champion with Pittsburgh in 2009, the Hurricanes captain was named the best player of the Playoffs. His impact went far beyond the numbers. All the way through the run, he was the anchor for his side, especially when things got messy. His experience and his work in front of the opposing net often made the difference.
Among the other men behind the title, Taylor Hall also enjoyed a night to remember. After moving through several teams and plenty of twists along the way, the former MVP finally got his hands on the Stanley Cup. Jackson Blake also played a key role in the decisive game, while Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win late on.
Rod Brind’Amour moves further into the history books
Rod Brind’Amour’s name already meant plenty in Carolina. Now it’s impossible to tell the Hurricanes’ story without putting him right at the centre of it. Champion as captain in 2006, champion as coach in 2026, he joins a very exclusive club in NHL history. His team has come up short near the finish line more than once in recent years, especially in conference finals, but it kept coming back.
That resilience has become part of the organisation’s identity.
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Eric Tulsky’s work has finally paid off
Behind the scenes, Eric Tulsky also played a major role. His path is probably one of the most unusual in North American sport. A scientist specialising in nanotechnology before getting hooked on advanced stats, he gradually found his way into hockey and eventually became the Hurricanes’ general manager.
His more analytical vision and Brind’Amour’s more traditional approach were sometimes framed as opposites. In reality, the two men learned how to work together. The trophy tells that story now.
Vegas falls one step short
For the Golden Knights, the disappointment is huge. Reaching the final was already some achievement after a superb regular-season finish and a strong run through the Western Conference. The Las Vegas side had also knocked out Colorado, the favourite in many people’s eyes. But against Carolina, the answers ran out as the series wore on.
The next few months should bring plenty of answers about the future of the project, starting with John Tortorella, who came in behind the bench late in the season and still has questions hanging over him.
A franchise that never stopped believing
In recent years, the Hurricanes often looked close without ever getting over the line. Plenty of painful exits left regret behind, but the organisation never tore up its foundations.
Twenty years after the first title, that patience has finally been rewarded. In a league where nothing ever seems to run in a straight line, Carolina found its moment. And this time, nobody stopped them lifting the Stanley Cup.
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