Hurricanes win Stanley Cup! Carolina beats Golden Knights to end 20-year drought

The Carolina Hurricanes are celebrating a Stanley Cup championship 20 years in the making.

They defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in a near-perfect game on Sunday, June 14.

The Hurricanes’ second line came through on goals by Taylor Hall in the first period and Jackson Blake in the second period. They held Vegas without a shot for nearly 19 minutes and Nikolaj Ehlers put the game away with an empty-net goal.

"It was our time," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We weren’t going to be denied."

The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006, when Brind’Amour was captain. As coach, he made several decisions that helped Carolina roar back from a 2-1 series deficit and win three in a row.

First, he replaced starting goalie Frederik Andersen - who was dealing with an injury - with Brandon Bussi with the Hurricanes down 4-0 in Game 3. Bussi was steady in Games 4 and 5 and had a 22-save shutout in Game 6.

He also changed up the top line, which broke through in Game 5. And his defensive changes prevented the Golden Knights from getting the breakaways that cost them early in the series.

Defenseman Jaccob Slavin was stellar in Game 6 and added another honor to go along with the gold medal he won with the USA at the Olympics.

"His stick, he stopped four or five Grade A (chances)," said captain Jordan Staal, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The Hurricanes had signed Ehlers and traded for K'Andre Miller in the offseason and added Bussi as a waiver pickup.

They dominated the early playoffs, going 12-1, and so were rested against the high-powered Golden Knights. That paid off as they celebrated on the ice on Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights fell short after reaching the final for the third time in their nine-year history. They made a late-season coaching change to John Tortorella and swept the No. 1 overall Colorado Avalanche in the conference finals.

They were without injured William Karlsson in the clinching game and players indicated the team was playing through other injuries.

Brayden McNabb was one of those. He returned one game after being hit in the visor by a puck in Game 2. Golden Knights players were proud of the team and disappointed in the outcome.

"It’s a fun ride until it comes to an end and you’re not on the right side," McNabb said.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates on Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. Here are highlights:

Where is the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup parade?

The Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship parade will be on Saturday, June 20, in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. More details will be announced later, the team said.

Jordan Staal hands off Stanley Cup to Frederik Andersen

That's the biggest question in hockey: Who gets to lift the Stanley Cup second? Frederik Andersen got the honors in a nice move by Staal. Andersen's play got the Hurricanes to the final and though he had not dressed since the second period of Game 3 of the final, he played a huge part in the run.

Jordan Staal wins Conn Smythe Trophy

The 37-year-old captain is the oldest player to win playoff MVP. He scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final and was a defensive stalwart throughout the playoffs.

Final score: Hurricanes 3, Golden Knights 0

The Hurricanes play a great defensive game and Brandon Bussi had a 22-save shutout to give Carolina its second championship..

Nikolaj Ehlers scores empty-net goal

That should do with Carolina now leading 3-0.

Brandon Bussi saves

He stops Shea Theodore and then Tomas Hertl's rebound.

Carter Hart goes to bench

Extra skater out there with three minutes left.

5 iminutes left

2-0 Carolina.

Brandon Bussi save

He gets his glove on Pavel Dorofeyev's shot and jumps on the puck to freeze it.

6 minutes left

2-0 Carolina. Shots are 19-16 Hurricanes.

Golden Knights go on power play

Brandon Bussi is called for high-sticking. Jack Eichel hits the crossbar on a 2-on-0 with Mark Stone. Penalty is killed.

Golden Knights' shot drought ends

Ivan Barbashev gets the first Golden Knights shot in more than 18 minutes.

Third period underway

2-0 Hurricanes, who are 20 minutes away from a Stanley Cup celebration.

Second period analysis: Hurricanes 2, Golden Knights 0

Remember how Vegas dominated the second period in the first four games? No longer. The Hurricanes have outscored the Golden Knights 3-0 in the second period the past two games, including 1-0 in Game 6. The second line got that goal as Jackson Blake connected off a Logan Stankoven pass. More important, the Hurricanes held Vegas without a shot for the final 16 minutes. Carolina now leads in shots, 16-14.

Hurricanes go on power play

Rasmus Andersson is called for interference. Carter Hart dives across to rob Sebastian Aho. Vegas kills it off.

Jackson Blake goal adds to Hurricanes' lead

It's the second goal of the game for the Hurricanes' second line. They retrieve the puck several times in the offensive zone and Logan Stankoven feeds Jackson Blake for a goal at 13:31. Hurricanes 2, Golden Knights 0

10 minutes left in second period

1-0 Carolina. Shots are 14-11 Vegas.

5 minutes into second period

1-0 Carolina. Shots are 14-10 Vegas.

Jordan Staal stopped

Jordan Staal gets in alone on Carter Hart, who makes a blocker save. Still 1-0 Carolina and Staal's goal streak stays at five games.

Second period underway

Hurricanes lead 1-0 and they kill off the remainder of the Golden Knights' power play.

First-period analysis: Hurricanes 1, Golden Knights 0

The big question coming into the game is how Carter Hart would fare after giving up 20 goals in five games. He gave up a Taylor Hall less than four minutes in. But later in the period, the goalie gave away the puck and dived back into the crease. to rob Andrei Svechnikov. The Golden Knights were pressing during a late power play but couldn't beat Brandon Bussi. Shots were 10-8 Vegas.

Golden Knights go on power play

Logan Stankoven is called for cross-checking. Brandon Bussi has to come up with big saves. Power play time will carry over into the second period.

Hurricanes go on power play

Goal scorer Taylor Hall draws a hooking penalty from Jack Eichel. Vegas kills if off.

5 minutes left in first period

It's 1-0 Carolina. The Hurricanes lead 7-5 in shots.

Big save by Carter Hart

He gives up the puck behind the net and dives back into the crease to stop Andrei Svechnikov.

Brandon Bussi save

He stops Brett Howden on a breakaway.

Golden Knights go on power play

Jackson Blake is called for tripping Carter Hart. The Golden Knights' power play is 2-for-15 in the final. It doesn't last long as Tomas Hert is penalized for a faceoff violation, so it will be 4-on-4 for 1:28.

Brandon Bussi save

The puck bounces off the top of the net and he snares it before it falls into the crease.

Taylor Hall opens scoring for Hurricanes

Hall, who was grimacing on the bench earlier, takes a long up-ice pass and beats Carter Hart glove side. Not a good luck for Hart. Hurricanes 1, Golden Knights 0

Golden Knights line change

Mitch Marner is up with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.

Taylor Hall injury update

The Hurricanes forward is being looked at on the bench after being checked by Ivan Barbashev.

Game 6 underway

The Hurricanes will try to clinch. The Golden Knights will try to force Game 7.

What time is Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final Game 6?

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final is at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

What channel is Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 6?

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final will be broadcast by ABC.

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights: How to watch, stream Stanley Cup Final Game 6

• Date: Sunday, June 14
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• TV: ABC
• Streaming: Fubo

Siren sounder

It's Alex Pietrangelo, who won the Stanley with Vegas in 2023. He has been out all season with a hip injury.

Golden Knights vs Hurricanes Game 6 odds

Odds provdided via BetMGM (as of 6 p.m. ET, June 14)

• Spread: Hurricanes (-1.5)
• Money line: Hurricanes (-115), Golden Knights (-105)
• Over/under: 5.5

Golden Knights, Hurricanes opening lines

Vegas' Braeden Bowman, who hasn't played an NHL game since March 21, will be there for the opening faceoff on the Nic Dowd line. The Jordan Staal line will start for the Hurricanes.

Stanley Cup Final schedule

All times p.m. ET

Hurricanes lead series 3-2

• Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4
• Game 2: Hurricanes 4, Golden Knights 3 (OT)
• Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4 (2OT)
• Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Golden Knights 3
• Game 5: Hurricanes 4, Golden Knights 2
• Game 6: Sunday, June 14, Carolina at Vegas, 8, ABC
• x-Game 7: Wednesday, June 17, Vegas at Carolina, 8, ABC

Carolina Hurricanes' lines

Vegas Golden Knights' lineup changes

According to ABC, Reilly Smith is coming in for injured William Karlsson. Defenseman Kaedan Korczak is coming in for Dylan Coghlan, and 22-year-old Braeden Bowman is coming in for Keegan Kolesar.

Goaltending matchup

• Golden Knights' Carter Hart (14-7, 2.59 goals-against average, .909 save percentage. Adin Hill is the backup.
• Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi (2-1, 2.18, .908). Pyotr Kochetkov is backing up. Frederik Andersen is a scratch.

Vegas Golden Knights' leading scorers

Mitch Marner (29 points), Jack Eichel (22), Brett Howden (18), Shea Theodore (18), Pavel Dorofeyev (16)

Howden leads all NHL scorers with 14 goals.

Carolina Hurricanes' leading scorers

Taylor Hall (18 points), Jackson Blake (18), Nikolaj Ehlers (17), Logan Stankoven (15), Jordan Staal (12)

Stankoven leads the Hurricanes with 11 goals.

Potential Olympic medal, Stanley Cup winners

Thtree Hurricanes players have the possibility on Sunday to win a Stanley Cup and an Olympic medal in the same year.

Defenseman Jaccob Slavin won a gold medal with the USA, Seth Jarvis a silver with Canada and Sebastian Aho won bronze with Finland.

The Golden Knights have five Olympic medalists: Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin (gold with USA), Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore (Canada).

Hurricanes players who could win a second Stanley Cup

Jordan Staal and William Carrier are the only Hurricanes players with a previous Stanley Cup title.

Staal won in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carrier won in 2023 with the Golden Knights.

Coach Rod Brind'Amour won a Stanley Cup as captain of the Hurricanes in 2006.

The Stanley Cup is in the building

Vegas has been site of Stanley Cup-clinching games

The Stanley Cup has been clinched in Las Vegas the last two times the Golden Knights were in the final. They lost to the Washington Capitals in 2018 and beat the Florida Panthers in 2023.

Golden Knights' Carter Hart vows to play better

Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart will make his 22nd start of the playoffs in Game 6. After a stellar first three rounds, he has allowed four goals in every game of the championship series.

"I haven't been at my best in this series," he said on Saturday. "I'll be better next game and ready to go."

John Tortorella has faith in Carter Hart

Vegas coach John Tortorella says he has confidence in goalie Carter Hart, who played for him in Philadelphia. Hart has allowed four goals in each game of the Final.

"I know him," he said. "I know there's a better game in him. I've seen it throughout the playoffs. I think he's a very good goalie. We've got to do a better job around him, too."

Jordan Staal on a roll

Hurricanes center Jordan Staal has a five-game goal streak in the Stanley Cup Final. That ties him with Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Fred "Cyclone" Taylor. No one has had a six-game streak in the final, so Staal would hold the record if he scores.

William Karlsson injury update

William Karlsson has been ruled out for Game 6, though coach John Tortorella wouldn't talk about his availability if there is a Game 7. He wouldn't reveal who will replace Karlsson in Sunday's game.

"It's obviously a big miss," Vegas forward Mitch Marner told reporters on Saturday. "He's done a lot of great things for us since he's been back in the lineup, but we've done this all year. We've had a lot of injuries throughout the year, throughout the playoffs. Obviously, it's tough losing Will, but it's next man up mentality."

This story was updated to include a method to order a Carolina Hurricanes championship page print from USA TODAY Sports.