LAS VEGAS -- The Carolina Hurricanes spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn't fit the club's typical style.
But when it came down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the Hurricanes' defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the Vegas Golden Knights and not letting up.
The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout in Sunday night's clinching Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.
"That's a lot of years," said Carolina center Jordan Staal, who received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. "It's amazing. This is something I've been going after ever since we got the first one. You want to win it again and again and again. What a feeling, what a battle. The boys were grinding today, my goodness. So many individual efforts just to keep the puck out of our net. It was an amazing ride. I'm just so proud of these guys."
Brandon Bussi, whose entrance late into Game 3 helped turn around the series for Carolina, recorded his first career playoff shutout, stopping 22 shots. Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal.
"It's special, it's been a special year," Bussi told ESPN's Emily Kaplan on the ice before the Cup ceremony. "It's been an honor to be able to do it with this group. Everyone deserves it so much."
Hall played for six NHL franchises before landing in Carolina and securing his first Stanley Cup title.
"It's incredible. I've been kind of everywhere, and I got here and I really felt at home in a few days," Hall told ESPN. "That's a credit to Rod and the coaching staff. But the guys that have been here for seven, eight years, I'm so happy for them. It's an amazing group, I couldn't have asked for anything more."
The ultimate Cane 💪🔥
— ESPN (@espn) June 15, 2026
Two decades later, Rod Brind'Amour is bringing the Stanley Cup to Raleighwood ONCE AGAIN! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DSiBJerwkQ
The Golden Knights, who made an unlikely run just to reach the Final, struggled badly to muster offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal in the second and third periods. Playing in their third Cup Final, this is the first time they have been shut out.
This clinching game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the first three games.
Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind'Amour, who also captained Carolina to its 2006 title.
"I'm so happy for these guys. It just means so much to see how happy these guys are," he told ESPN. "It's sticking with it. We knew what we had here. ... It's such a great story with this team, I'm just really proud."
This was the first game of the series in which Vegas goaltender Carter Hart didn't allow four goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.
The Hurricanes began to assume control of the series after falling behind 4-0 in Game 3. They came back to force overtime, and though the Hurricanes lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from there on out.
Reflecting the do-or-die situation for the Golden Knights, they made several lineup changes, with Brett Howden replacing the injured William Karlsson at second-line center. Mitch Marner could have moved there, but remained at right wing.
Original Golden Knight Reilly Smith made his Cup Final debut at third-line right wing, and Braeden Bowman made his playoff debut at fourth-line right wing. Kaedan Korczak replaced Dylan Coghlan on the third defensive pairing.
This title is a testament to Carolina's resilience as a franchise that kept coming close to winning the Eastern Conference, but couldn't quite get through until now.
"You never know this is going to happen," Bussi told ESPN. "You just work hard, and put your head down, and good things will happen once in a while."
Brind'Amour made sure the Hurricanes kept getting back up after losing in the conference final twice in the past three years and three times in their current eight-year playoff run. The talent was clearly there, but there was always a stumbling block.
Not anymore.
After dispatching Montreal in five games to make the Final, the Brind'Amour-led Hurricanes then faced perennial power Vegas and took care of business there, too. Now, he will get his name on the Cup for the second time.
So will 37-year-old Staal, who also won the title in 2009 with Pittsburgh. He planted himself in front of Hart and dared the Golden Knights to knock him out of the way. Staal scored in each of the first five Cup Final games, the first time that has happened.
The Hurricanes got off to a fast start with a goal just 25 seconds into Game 1, but lost 5-4 on a late goal from Tomas Hertl. And the Golden Knights were on the verge of taking complete control as minutes ticked down in Game 2 while holding a 2-0 lead and appearing as if they would take a 2-0 series lead back home.
Then, it all changed. Carolina showed a fight that not only brought the Hurricanes back into the series by rallying to win 4-3 in overtime on Seth Jarvis' one-timer, but would serve as their signature throughout the series.
That was especially true the following game when the Golden Knights took a 4-0 lead into the third period and the Canes seemed to have no answers. Brind'Amour even appeared to wave the white flag by removing goalie Frederik Andersen and replacing him with Bussi.
But the Hurricanes weren't simply trying to get to Game 4. They sent a message, going on a remarkable rally to force overtime. Though Carolina lost, it was an inflection point, with Bussi backstopping a team that was only growing stronger. Carolina then went on to win the next two games and moved within a victory of the championship.
The Hurricanes got it done against the Golden Knights team that was on a heater after John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. Vegas then went from third in the Pacific Division to first, knocked off Utah and Anaheim in six games apiece in the playoffs and shockingly swept Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado to win the West.
"I feel very fortunate to get to know the team, get to know the organization, a first-class organization and just have the opportunity," Tortorella said after the loss. "Like I said, I've wanted to coach, I want to coach, and to jump into this with this, with this gang, I feel so fortunate."
Now, the Golden Knights have some notable questions to ask, including at the top of the list whether to make Tortorella a full-time coach. He didn't have any guarantees of coaching in Vegas beyond this season, but getting to the Cup Final is a good argument to run it back.
Golden Knights management will make the final call on that, and they don't always follow league norms.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
