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The Carolina Hurricanes have cinched a Stanley Cup win for the second time in franchise history.
The team’s win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday evening came 20 years after their first Stanley Cup victory in 2026, introducing a whole new generation of fans to the journey to the end of the playoffs.
And what a decisive win it was. The 3-0 shutout made it clear that the Canes were the rightful winners of the 2026 NHL playoffs.
No goals allowed
After a difficult 5-4 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Hurricanes came back in Game 2 to edge out their opponents 4-3. From there, they hit their stride, winning the next two games before a 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 5.
The Canes put it all on the line in Game 6, especially since the Golden Knights had the home ice advantage. With their 3-2 lead in the series, only one win stood between them and the Stanley Cup.
Taylor Hall scored early in the first period, creating a momentum that stayed with the Canes throughout the game. Teammates Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers also notched goals for Carolina during the final playoff game.
Brandon Bussi, the team’s rookie goaltender, contributed to the Canes’ resounding 3-0 shutout. He finished the big win in Game 6 with 22 saves on 22 shots on goal.
Vegas pulled the goalie in the final minutes of the game in a last attempt to score, but Bussi made saves to secure the shutout.
What was the biggest shutout in Stanley Cup history?
With the level of competition in play at the Stanley Cup, shutouts are a big deal—especially when they happen in a game that clinches the most important prize in hockey.
Despite their impressive performance, the Carolina Hurricanes’ 3-0 victory doesn’t come close to the biggest shutout in Stanley Cup playoffs history. In fact, the winning team in that game scored nearly four times as many goals as the Hurricanes did
The Montreal Canadiens hold the title for the biggest Stanley Cups playoff shutout with an 11-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1944 playoffs. The Boston Bruins come in at a close second with a 10-0 shutout in the 1969 Stanley Cup Finals. In a stroke of bad luck for the Maple Leafs, they were the losers once again in that historic shutout.
Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2026?
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Captain Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win in 2026. The trophy is awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs each year.
At age 37, Staal is now the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. It’s yet another accolade to add to his individual hockey career as well as that of the Staal family.
Jordan is one of four brothers, all of whom have played ice hockey professionally in the NHL. Like some other professional sports families, they’ve made their name synonymous with the sport.
This playoff run marks the second Stanley Cup win for Jordan Staal. He previously won the cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. Interestingly, his brother Eric won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes when the franchise first took home the honors in 2006.