LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 to win their second Stanley Cup.
Penguins' Draft Prospect Profiles: Tommy Bleyl
We're less than two weeks away from the start of the 2026 NHL Draft, and one player who could be on the Pittsburgh Penguins' radar is defenseman Tommy Bleyl.
Bleyl played for the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL during the 2025-26 season and put up some ridiculous numbers, finishing with 13 goals and 81 points in 63 games. His season was so impressive that he won the Defenseman of the Year Award in the QMJHL.
He was also fantastic in the playoffs, compiling six goals and 28 points in 21 games. This was his first season with the Wildcats, and he made sure it was a memorable one.
The first thing that jumps out about his game is his shoot-first mentality. He loves to shoot from the point and look for deflections from his teammates. However, when he has time, he can really rifle the puck, and one of my favorite examples came from a Wildcats game against the Cape Breton Eagles. Bleyl took a pass at the center of the blue line, skated in a little bit, and absolutely sniped the puck to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Bleyl's also an exceptional skater and can get going on a dime. A great example of this was also from a game between the Wildcats and Eagles when Bleyl corralled the puck in his own zone and started skating down the left side. He gained the red line with ease before skating into the offensive zone and made a beautiful power move to the front of the net while protecting the puck on his backhand. At the last second, he moved the puck to his forehand and rifled it top shelf to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Another example of this came during a Wildcats' game against the Val-d'Or Foreurs. He started behind his own cage and came across his own blue lines before skating through the entire penalty kill by himself. The play ended with Bleyl going to his backhand for a beautiful goal.
These two plays are just a taste of what he can do as a skater. The skating mechanics are great and they allow him to do things with the puck that others can't.
Bleyl quarterbacked the top power play throughout the year and did an excellent job. He has great vision from the point, allowing him to find passing lanes as soon as they open. He can make players miss with some really smooth moves and knows when to activate deeper in the offensive zone.
The offensive game is all there, whether it's his release, skating, playmaking, or stickhandling. Heck, his transition game is also spectacular to watch.
5 Intriguing Penguins' Draft Targets To Keep An Eye On After NHL Scouting CombineThe Pittsburgh Penguins met with a lot of players during the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine last week, where some of them stood out and are worth keeping an eye on heading into the draft later this month.Defensively, he has an active stick in his own zone, allowing him to win some battles along the boards. His gap control is also solid and helps disrupt players as they try to come into the zone with control. He could still be better at defending in front of his own net, but that will probably come as he gets bigger and puts on more muscle. For reference, he's listed at only 170 lbs, but that should change when he plays for Michigan State.
Michigan State is a great place for Bleyl to go to since it's one of the top college hockey programs in the country and has a history of developing some really good NHL players.
Like a few of the other players I have profiled, I'd be more than comfortable with the Penguins taking Bleyl with the No. 22 pick if he's still on the board.
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Senators Fail To Get A Single Vote For The NHL All-Rookie Team (Again)
The NHL All-Rookie team was announced by the league on Friday.
For Senators fans, it was hard not to notice that the rival Montreal Canadiens are continuing to produce excellent entry-level players, even as they were emerging this spring as Stanley Cup contenders.
Fresh off a surprising run to the NHL Eastern Final that included playoff series victories over elite teams like Tampa Bay and Buffalo, the Canadiens had three players receive All-Rookie Team votes in 2025-26.
Ivan Demidov finished first in voting among forwards with 195 points, Oliver Kapanen received six votes, and goaltender Jakub Dobes led all rookie netminders with 151 points.
2025-26 NHL All-Rookie Team
G, Jakub Dobes, MTL
D, Alexander Nikishin, CAR
D, Matthew Schaefer, NYI
F, Ivan Demidov, MTL
F, Beckett Sennecke, ANA
F, Jimmy Snuggerud, STL
2025-26 NHL All-Rookie Team Voting (by points)
Goaltenders
1. Jakub Dobes, MTL, 151
2. Jesper Wallstedt, MIN, 44
Defensemen, Points
1. Matthew Schaefer, NYI, 194
2. Alexander Nikishin, CAR, 184
3. Zeev Buium, VAN, 9
t-4. Cole Hutson, WAS, 1
t-4. Yan Kuznetsov, CGY, ,1
t-4. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, DET, 1
Forwards
1. Ivan Demidov, MTL, 195
2. Beckett Sennecke, ANA, 191
3. Jimmy Snuggerud, STL,136
4. Ryan Leonard, WSH, 19
5. Fraser Minten, BOS, 16
6. Ben Kindel, PIT, 14
7. Justin Sourdif, WSH, 7
8. Oliver Kapanen, MTL, 6
9. Linus Karlsson, VAN, 1
Meanwhile, the all-rookie voting continues to shine an annual light on the tumbleweeds that roll through the Senators' farm system. This is the third straight year that the Senators have failed to get even a single vote.
The last Ottawa players to receive a vote for the All-Rookie Team came in 2022-23. Jake Sanderson finished second among defencemen behind Owen Power with 179 voting points, while Shane Pinto picked up a single vote among forwards.
Since Steve Staios took over as GM, he's been a better steward of the club's future assets. He did trade Detroit's first-round pick (from Alex DeBrincat deal) to Boston to acquire Linus Ullmark, but he held on to the club's own first-round picks in each of the last two summers, selecting defensemen Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler.
The jury is still out on both players, and the same is true for a prospect like Stephen Halliday, who played just 30 games this season. Not enough to get votes this year, and too many to qualify as a rookie next year.
The prospect pool starts to get pretty shallow after those three.
Not that fans need convincing, but the recent voting is further proof that the club's asset management and drafting over the past five years have generally failed to provide any sort of real organizational depth, let alone contenders for the NHL all-rookie team.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
This story was first published at The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators site. Check out more from THN.com/Ottawa at the links below.
Jason York Shares A Wild Mike Babcock Story From Their Anaheim Days
Senators Reveal Their First-Round Draft Approach
Former Senators Forward Retires From Hockey At 34
Senators Top Amateur Scout Weighs In On Yakemchuk's First Pro Season
LA Kings Get Their Man, And The Ex-Senators Coaching Drought Continues
Why Brady Tkachuk Is Poised For A Monster Bounce-Back Season
Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights
Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Welcome back to the summit, Carolina.
The Hurricanes took down the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 Sunday night to win the Stanley Cup.
It’s the second championship in Hurricanes history, ending a 20-year drought with the last triumph coming in 2005-26.
After the first four games of the series featured the two sides exchanging wins, Carolina stamped its authority with a 4-2 victory in Game 5 to make it two straight wins — and one away from the title.
But doing so in the Vegas atmosphere wouldn’t be easy. Now it’s been done.
Just about four minutes into the opening period, Taylor Hall found himself open on the break for a 1v1 shot. He drilled it home.
The second goal came with about six-and-a-half minutes to go in the second period. With the Golden Knights camped in their defensive box, Jackson Blake smacked it home with force. Logan Stankoven recorded the assist.
Carolina held it down from there with Brandon Buss coming out with several important saves.
In the closing minutes, Nikolaj Ehlers made it 3-0 off an empty net. He had some work to do to create the angle but made it happen.
The Hurricanes now see their 20-year wait for the title come to a close. They topped the Metropolitan Division with a win-loss-overtime loss record of 53-22-7. The 113-point total trailed only the Colorado Avalanche’s 121, though Colorado could not optimize its tag as favorites.
Carolina last won the Stanley Cup in 2005-06 after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 7. The franchise also made the final in 2001-02, its only other appearance, but lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings despite taking the opening game on the road.
The Golden Knights, which started play in 2017, made its third appearance in the final — still a remarkable feat despite two losses. Vegas first made it in its debut campaign before falling short to the Washington Capitals 4-1 — also after winning Game 1, but at home.
Vegas then claimed its first championship in 2022-23 after a brilliant 9-3 Game 5 win against the Florida Panthers, right before their dominant stretch.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour also put himself in the history books by winning a title with the franchise as both a player (captain, too) and head coach. He’s made the playoffs in each of his eight seasons leading the team, finally breaking through this year.
He made the conference finals three times, including his debut head-coaching season.
Only six other players have achieved the feat of winning a title as a player and a coach for the same team. The last example transpired in 1956 with Montreal Canadiens’ Toe Blake.
Brind’Amour will be tasked with the tough ask to repeat as champions, though his resume indicates his side will likely be back in the mix.
Carolina is the latest example of a major professional league team ending a championship drought this season. The New York Knicks just claimed the NBA title after 53 years, while Arsenal ended a 22-year Premier League title wait.
Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights
Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Welcome back to the summit, Carolina.
The Hurricanes took down the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 Sunday night to win the Stanley Cup.
It’s the second championship in Hurricanes history, ending a 20-year drought with the last triumph coming in 2005-26.
After the first four games of the series featured the two sides exchanging wins, Carolina stamped its authority with a 4-2 victory in Game 5 to make it two straight wins — and one away from the title.
But doing so in the Vegas atmosphere wouldn’t be easy. Now it’s been done.
Just about four minutes into the opening period, Taylor Hall found himself open on the break for a 1v1 shot. He drilled it home.
The second goal came with about six-and-a-half minutes to go in the second period. With the Golden Knights camped in their defensive box, Jackson Blake smacked it home with force. Logan Stankoven recorded the assist.
Carolina held it down from there with Brandon Buss coming out with several important saves.
In the closing minutes, Nikolaj Ehlers made it 3-0 off an empty net. He had some work to do to create the angle but made it happen.
The Hurricanes now see their 20-year wait for the title come to a close. They topped the Metropolitan Division with a win-loss-overtime loss record of 53-22-7. The 113-point total trailed only the Colorado Avalanche’s 121, though Colorado could not optimize its tag as favorites.
Carolina last won the Stanley Cup in 2005-06 after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 7. The franchise also made the final in 2001-02, its only other appearance, but lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings despite taking the opening game on the road.
The Golden Knights, which started play in 2017, made its third appearance in the final — still a remarkable feat despite two losses. Vegas first made it in its debut campaign before falling short to the Washington Capitals 4-1 — also after winning Game 1, but at home.
Vegas then claimed its first championship in 2022-23 after a brilliant 9-3 Game 5 win against the Florida Panthers, right before their dominant stretch.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour also put himself in the history books by winning a title with the franchise as both a player (captain, too) and head coach. He’s made the playoffs in each of his eight seasons leading the team, finally breaking through this year.
He made the conference finals three times, including his debut head-coaching season.
Only six other players have achieved the feat of winning a title as a player and a coach for the same team. The last example transpired in 1956 with Montreal Canadiens’ Toe Blake.
Brind’Amour will be tasked with the tough ask to repeat as champions, though his resume indicates his side will likely be back in the mix.
Carolina is the latest example of a major professional league team ending a championship drought this season. The New York Knicks just claimed the NBA title after 53 years, while Arsenal ended a 22-year Premier League title wait.
NHL playoff overtime explained: Longest games, rules, 2026 OT results
The Stanley Cup Final is nearing the end and just like last year, there has been some overtime.
With the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights evenly matched, we had the first overtime in this year's Final in Game 2. It was followed by double overtime in Game. 3.
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers went to overtime three times in the first four games. The Oilers won Games 1 and 4 while the Panthers won Game 2 in double overtime. Games 5 and 6 were settled in regulation as the Panthers beat the Oilers for the second year in a row.
Unlike the Olympics and world championships, where 3-on-3 overtime is played even in the gold medal game, the NHL switches things up in the postseason when the games matter more.
There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.
This postseason, there have been 22 overtime games, including four double-overtime games.
Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.
How does OT work in NHL playoffs?
If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.
The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.
2026 NHL playoff overtime results
June 6: Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4 (2OT): Shea Theodore scored the winner at 5:38 of the second overtime as Vegas took a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
A crazy goal to end a crazy Game 3 in double overtime
— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) June 7, 2026
Shea Theodore launches a slapshot that smacks the endboards, bounces back, and goes off of Brandon Bussi's skate--IN MID-AIR, MIND YOU--and into the net#SoundTheSiren#ForgedInFire#NHL#StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/owiUGMzBBJ
June 4:Hurricanes 4, Golden Knights 3: Seth Jarvis scored the winner at 3:56 of the first overtime as Carolina tied the Stanley Cup Final 1-1.
May 25: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2: Andrei Svechnikov scored the winner at 14:06 of the first overtime as Carolina took the series lead in Game 3.
May 23: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2. Nikolaj Ehlers scored the winner at 3:29 of the first overtime as Carolina tied the series in Game 2.
May 18: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2. Alex Newhook scored the winner at 11:22 of the first overtime as Montreal ousted Buffalo in Game 7.
May 13: Avalanche 4, Wild 3. Brett Kulak scored the winner at 3:52 of the first overtime as Colorado ousted Minnesota in Game 5.
May 12: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2. Pavel Dorofeyev scored the winning goal just over four minutes into the first overtime period to give Vegas a 3-2 series lead over Anaheim.
May 9: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2. Jackson Blake scored at 5:31 of the first overtime to sweep the Flyers.
May 4: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2. Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of the first overtime for a 2-0 series lead.
May 1: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0. Gage Goncalves scored at 9:03 of the first overtime to tie the series.
April 29: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4. Brett Howden scored at 5:28 of the second overtime as Vegas took a 3-2 lead on Utah.
April 29: Flyers 1, Penguins 0. Cam York scored at 17:32 of the first overtime as the Flyers ousted the Penguins in Game 6.
April 28: Bruins 2, Sabres 1. David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.
April 27: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4. Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.
April 26: Ducks 4, Oilers 3. Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.
April 25: Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tied the series 2-2.
April 24: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.
April 22: Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.
April 21: Avalanche 2, Kings 1. Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.
April 21: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2. J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.
April 20: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2. Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.
April 19: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3. Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.
Longest Stanley Cup Final games
Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.
What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?
- 1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
- 2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
- 3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
- 4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
- 5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
- 6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs overtime rules, 2026 bracket results and longest games
Would Dylan Larkin Accept A Trade To The West Coast?
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is likely to be on the move at some point during the offseason after his highly-publicized reported trade request that broke earlier this month.
In the initial stages of the fallout of the trade request, Larkin's preferred three destinations appeared limited to the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Minnesota Wild - all of whom have Team USA forwards Larkin played with during last year's Four Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Milan Olympics.
Since then, reports have indicated that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman approached Larkin's representation with the request of expanding his trade team list, which they were apparently receptive toward.
In the meantime, a new club in the Western Conference has emerged as a potential trading partner with the Red Wings.
Could a deal with the San Jose Sharks make sense for Detroit, especially if they were to land 2025 second overall pick Michael Misa in return?
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
According to Sharks beat writer Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest, San Jose could very well show interest in Larkin, but wondered if it would ultimately be best for their long-term roster construction.
"Adding a consistent 30-goal center with strong defensive ability wouldn’t hurt the Sharks, but it would raise questions about other areas," Miller wrote. "Michael Misa is still 19 years old and is projected to become the No. 2 center behind Macklin Celebrini. Alexander Wennberg just signed a three-year extension. Pushing those two down the lineup to add Larkin doesn’t seem like the right thing to do."
Miller then said he believes Sharks GM Mike Grier, who keeps his cards close to the vest as is Yzerman's tendency, will at least be placing a call to Detroit.
"I believe Grier will at least call the Red Wings to see what the asking price for Larkin is," he said. "That doesn’t mean the San Jose Sharks are truly interested in acquiring the gold medalist. Since taking over as GM, Grier has kept his interests close to his chest. That hasn’t stopped many reports linking the Sharks to various trade rumors."
The Sharks, led by 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini, are a team on the rise that just missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, but could soon be a force in the Western Conference.
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Golden Knights Leaning on ‘Veteran Boost’ Against Antithesis Hurricanes
If you think about it, the two teams in this Stanley Cup Final are perfect foils of each other.
At one end of the ice, you have a team that has known nothing but heartbreak and humiliation for two decades. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes went on to make the playoffs just once over the next 12 years. They’ve qualified for the postseason in each of the last eight seasons, but in each one, they’ve suffered the pain of never enough.
At the other end of the ice, you have a team that has enjoyed unparalleled success before celebrating its tenth birthday. The Vegas Golden Knights have missed the playoffs just once in their nine-year history and boast the most postseason wins since 2018. This is their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final, and they have already won it once.
These teams are opposites in every single way. The Hurricanes prioritize drafting and developing prospects; the Golden Knights prefer to use theirs as trade bait. The Hurricanes have been accused of being afraid to take the big swing; the Golden Knights have earned a reputation as a team that does the exact opposite.
And yet, they are both the same where it matters most: they are both in search of their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Down 3-2 in the series, the Golden Knights sit just one loss from their Stanley Cup dreams coming to an end. This is the first time they have faced elimination this postseason. However, this is a group that refuses to go gently into that good night. If they go down, they’ll go down swinging.
This Golden Knights team is stacked with players who have won before; the Hurricanes claim just two Stanley Cup Champions. The Golden Knights hope that their veteran locker room will give them an edge over a Hurricanes team that is, for the most part, fairly new to this stage.
“I think it definitely helps,” said forward Mitch Marner. “I mean, I think a lot of guys in this room have played some massive games throughout their lifetime. So, you lean on that to stay calm, stay in the moment.”
Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon mentioned Brayden McNabb, Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Marner as veteran players who are leading the way.
“Leaning on those guys kind of comes naturally,” Lauzon said. “You don’t think about leaning on those guys, but when you’re out there, they make plays that change momentum during the game and boost our confidence within the group. I think for an elimination game, [they offer] something that’s really important for our group to have.”
SCF Open Thread: Game 6: Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights (6:00 p.m.)
Will this be the final game of the 2025-26 NHL season with the Carolina Hurricanes closing out their championship run in Game 6 or will the Vegas Golden Knights force a Wednesday night Game 7?
The theme of Game 5 was double trouble as both teams got their power play going. Vegas got on the board first from Pavel Dorofeyev but Carolina stormed back. Captain Jordan Staal scored to tie the game for Carolina, which extended his goal streak to five games. It was all Carolina from then on with Andrei Svechnikov scoring two on the power play with a Sebastian Aho tally sandwiched in between. Dorofeyev tried to spark another Vegas comeback but Brandon Bussi held the fort down and Carolina walked away with a 4-2 win, one victory away from hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are suddenly in an adverse position down 3-2 to Carolina and facing elimination. A concern almost as great as standing on the brink of elimination as they hope to extend the series to a Game 7 is the health of an important player in their lineup, center William Karlsson. He left the previous game after an awkward hit to the upper body and now the Swede has been ruled out for tonight’s contest and likely Game 7 if it gets to that. Hints are pointing to Reilly Smith drawing into the lineup instead.
Another concern for Vegas is that their goaltending is experiencing another valley. John Tortorella affirmed his belief snd commitment to his netminder Cater Hart but after giving up at least four goals in each game this series, Vegas needs a better outing from him if they are going to make a comeback to take the Stanley Cup.
Projected Lineup
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — Reilly Smith – Mitch Marner
Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons — Mark Stone
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Dylan Coghlan — Jeremy Lauzon
Carter Hart
Adin Hill
Carolina Hurricanes
Speaking of goaltending, Carolina is riding the wave of random themselves, hoping Brandon Bussi has one more solid performance in him to get the Hurricanes across the finish line.
Now that Carolina is in the driver’s seat to close out the Stanley Cup victory, discussion has turned to the likely Hurricane to win the Conn Smythe. Captain Jordan Staal has the best case especially with his five-goal streak in this series.
Projected Lineup
Andrei Svechnikov — Sebastian Aho — Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall — Logan Stankoven — Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers — Jordan Staal — Jordan Martinook
William Carrier — Mark Jankowski — Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin — Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller — Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere — Alexander Nikishin
Brandon Bussi
Pyotr Kochetkov
Follow along in the comments below!
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Expert Picks & Game 6 Best Bets
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The Carolina Hurricanes can put the Vegas Golden Knights to bed tonight with a win in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
However, Jack Eichel & Co. won't go down without a fight.
Our experts have put together a slew of Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks for Sunday, June 14, including the smattering of selections below.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights expert picks tonight
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
Neil Parker:  Brandon Bussi Over 21.5 saves | -110 |
| Todd Cordell: Seth Jarvis Over 0.5 points | -140 |
Todd Cordell:  Jack Eichel anytime goal scorer | +215 |
Odds courtesy of BET99.
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Neil Parker's expert pick: Brandon Bussi Over 21.5 saves
Price: -110 at BET99
In addition to winning consecutive starts, Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi was particularly sharp in Game 5, with 23 saves and 2.84 goals saved above expected.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights have consistently tilted the ice in their favor for stretches throughout the series:
- 11 shots on 26 attempts in the second period of Game 1
- 23 shots on 35 attempts in the second and third periods of Game 2
- 23 shots on 43 attempts in the second and third periods of Game 3
- Nine shots on 22 attempts in the third period of Game 4
- 13 shots on 25 attempts in the third period of Game 5.
The Golden Knights should place an even higher emphasis on testing Bussi early and often in Game 6, and I'd recommend playing this prop down to -125.
Todd Cordell's expert pick: Seth Jarvis Over 0.5 points
Price: -140 at BET99
Seth Jarvis leads Carolina forwards in time on ice and sits third in expected goals. Carolina has fared very well during his minutes, creating more expected goals and high-danger chances with Jarvis on the ice than any other player.
It has translated to success on the scoreboard — Carolina has scored 10 times with Jarvis on the ice — but only three points for Jarvis. That’s a 30% involvement rate, which is not even half of what he managed over the course of the season.
Look for Jarvis to get back on the scoresheet in Game 6. I'd bet this to -150.
Todd Cordell's expert pick No. 2: Jack Eichel anytime goal scorer
Price: +270 at BET99
Jack Eichel hasn’t scored in the Stanley Cup Final, but it’s not for a lack of opportunities. He's taken 25 shot attempts and generated 14 scoring chances, ranking him near the top of the Golden Knights in both categories.
He also leads the team in offensive zone faceoffs and percentage of draws taken in the offensive zone. John Tortorella is doing his best to put Eichel in good spots to produce.
Eichel has scored on only 4% of his shots in the playoffs after finishing at a 10.38% rate during the regular season.
There's no better time for him to break through than in a do-or-die Game 6. I'd play Eichel to +200.
More Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes Game 6 picks
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights
Hurricanes claim second Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Welcome back to the summit, Carolina.
The Hurricanes took down the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 Sunday night to win the Stanley Cup.
It’s the second championship in Hurricanes history, ending a 20-year drought with the last triumph coming in 2005-26.
After the first four games of the series featured the two sides exchanging wins, Carolina stamped its authority with a 4-2 victory in Game 5 to make it two straight wins — and one away from the title.
But doing so in the Vegas atmosphere wouldn’t be easy. Now it’s been done.
Just about four minutes into the opening period, Taylor Hall found himself open on the break for a 1v1 shot. He drilled it home.
The second goal came with about six-and-a-half minutes to go in the second period. With the Golden Knights camped in their defensive box, Jackson Blake smacked it home with force. Logan Stankoven recorded the assist.
Carolina held it down from there with Brandon Buss coming out with several important saves.
In the closing minutes, Nikolaj Ehlers made it 3-0 off an empty net. He had some work to do to create the angle but made it happen.
The Hurricanes now see their 20-year wait for the title come to a close. They topped the Metropolitan Division with a win-loss-overtime loss record of 53-22-7. The 113-point total trailed only the Colorado Avalanche’s 121, though Colorado could not optimize its tag as favorites.
Carolina last won the Stanley Cup in 2005-06 after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 7. The franchise also made the final in 2001-02, its only other appearance, but lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings despite taking the opening game on the road.
The Golden Knights, which started play in 2017, made its third appearance in the final — still a remarkable feat despite two losses. Vegas first made it in its debut campaign before falling short to the Washington Capitals 4-1 — also after winning Game 1, but at home.
Vegas then claimed its first championship in 2022-23 after a brilliant 9-3 Game 5 win against the Florida Panthers, right before their dominant stretch.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour also put himself in the history books by winning a title with the franchise as both a player (captain, too) and head coach. He’s made the playoffs in each of his eight seasons leading the team, finally breaking through this year.
He made the conference finals three times, including his debut head-coaching season.
Only six other players have achieved the feat of winning a title as a player and a coach for the same team. The last example transpired in 1956 with Montreal Canadiens’ Toe Blake.
Brind’Amour will be tasked with the tough ask to repeat as champions, though his resume indicates his side will likely be back in the mix.
Carolina is the latest example of a major professional league team ending a championship drought this season. The New York Knicks just claimed the NBA title after 53 years, while Arsenal ended a 22-year Premier League title wait.
Potential Sabres Trade Or Free Agent Acquisitions – Jake DeBrusk
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL enters trade season leading into the NHL Draft in two weeks, and the beginning of free agency on July 1. Based on a lengthy impasse between pending UFA Alex Tuch, most insiders are expecting the 30-year-old to sign elsewhere since there continues to be a considerable gap between what Tuch’s representatives are looking for and what Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is willing to pay him.
There is a slim possibility that Buffalo could get something significant in return for the Syracuse, NY native if they arrange a sign-and-trade, so that another club can have him on an eight-year deal and spread out the AAV to lower the cap hit, but with the likely scenario that he simply walks away when free agency opens next month, Kekalainen will have to pivot to fill the scoring gap.
Over the next few weeks, we will look at potential options for the Sabres. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, that absence may have to be filled by youngsters like Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund, but Kekalainen will potentially need to find a veteran winger to replace Tuch in the top six.
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A challenge for Kekalainen will be to find a veteran either with no trade protection or willing to waive whatever clause they have to come to Buffalo. One possible option could be Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk. Similar to the situation that Edmonton has with Darnell Nurse, the 29-year-old forward has a no-move for 2026-27, but next summer that turns into a modified 15-team no-trade, which would allow the Canucks to move the former Bruin to more than half the league.
That situation would encourage DeBrusk to work with new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson to find a new home. The veteran forward played the first seven years of his career in Boston, and has scored 20 or more goals five times; including both seasons in Vancouver. There is little doubt that Johnson is implementing a full rebuild, and is likely willing to move players in their late 20’s or early 30’s who do not fit the Canucks timetable for younger, retainable prospects.
From the Buffalo perspective, DeBrusk is a good fit, since he provides cost-certainty at a reasonable $5.5 million AAV for five more seasons. Kekalainen may be loathe to move any of his young forwards, who proved last season that they are ready to contribute in the NHL next season, but he could be attainable for a high draft pick and a player or good prospect.
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Flames' Huberdeau Tops Athlon Sports' List of NHL's Worst Contracts
As the NHL offseason kicks into high gear with the Stanley Cup only hours or days away from being awarded, sports publications are busy creating content to keep fans engaged in the down months. Recently, Athlon Sports posted the top five worst contracts in the four North American sports leagues, and put Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau at the top of the NHL list.
After scoring a career high 115 points during the 2021-22 season, thanks to 30 goals and 85 assists, the Florida Panthers traded the former third overall pick to the Flames on July 22, 2022. Within a month, then general manager Brad Treliving signed Huberdeau to an eight-year deal worth $84 million, which carries an annual cap hit of $10.5 million.
In Calgary, it took Huberdeau over two seasons to reach 115 points. During his first campaign in 2022-23, he had only 15 goals and 40 helpers for 55 points, a 47-point decline in production. Unfortunately, the following season wasn't any better, with only 12 goals and 52 points. Meanwhile, Huberdeau tied Yegor Sharangovich for the Flames' worst plus-minus rating at minus-29.
At first glance, a casual fan would think that Huberdeau may have played through an injury, explaining his sharp decline in points. However, he missed only three games in those first two seasons. Moreover, he missed a total of four games over the first three seasons in Calgary, scoring 55 goals and 169 points with a minus-40 rating.
In 2025-26, Huberdeau was looking to build upon a 28-goal and 62-point performance from the previous season. Through 50 games, he had ten goals and 15 assists for only 25 points. On Feb. 5, 2026, the Flames announced that he would miss the remainder of the season, opting to have hip surgery and hoping for a clean slate to start the 2026-27 season.
As of right now, Huberdeau has five years remaining on his deal, which expires at the end of the 2030-31 season. He's currently owed $52.5 million, making it almost impossible to trade him. Moreover, he currently has the NHL's 11th-highest cap hit and has a full no-movement clause, meaning he'd have to sign off on any potential move.
When Huberdeau joined the Flames, he had one year remaining from his deal with the Panthers, which paid him $5.9 million. However, since his extension began ahead of the 2022-23 season, he's gone on to score 50 goals, record 89 assists, and total 139 points. Among NHL players over the past three seasons, he ranks 165th in goals, 133rd in assists, and 139th in points.
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Today In Canadiens’ History: Montreal Drafted a Hall of Fame Member
On June 14, 1977, the NHL draft was held in Montreal, and while the Montreal Canadiens didn’t hit any home runs in the first round, picking Mark Napier and Norm Dupont, they did find a diamond in the rough with the last pick of the second round, when they called Rod Langway to the stage.
Unfortunately, they would only keep the talented blueliner for four seasons, from 1978-79 to 1981-82, when they traded him to the Washington Capitals. He was part of a four-player package with Brian Engblom, Doug Jarvis and Craig Laughlin that netted the Canadiens Rick Green and Ryan Walter. The latter would have one of the best seasons of his career that year, putting up 75 points, but he was never able to replicate the feat. Still, both Green and Walter went on to play big roles in the Canadiens’ 1985-86 Stanley Cup conquest.
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Meanwhile, Langway would go on to play 994 NHL games, putting up 329 points, picking up 851 penalty minutes, and finishing with a plus-276 rating. However, after winning a Cup with the Canadiens in 1978-79, he never won another championship. He last played in the NHL in 1992-93, having only played with the Canadiens and the Capitals. However, he wasn’t ready to hang them up yet and spent three seasons in minor leagues (ECHL, IHL, and AHL).
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002 and, unsurprisingly, chose to be inducted in the Capitals' colours, the team he spent 11 seasons with. Langway won two Norris Trophies, was elected to the NHL All-Star Teams three times and took part in six All-Star games.
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Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions & Parlay for Game 6
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Carter Hart has conceded at least four goals in each of the first five games in what has been a very high-scoring series.
With Hart bleeding goals, I am leaning towards Carolina players with my Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights goal scorer predictions.
Let's break down my NHL picks for Game 6.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 6
| Player to score a goal | Odds |
|---|---|
| Taylor Hall | +335 |
| Seth Jarvis | +215 |
| Jack Eichel | +215 |
| 💲Goal scorer parlay | +2000 |
Goal scorer pick: Taylor Hall +335
Taylor Hall leads the Carolina Hurricanes in this series with 37 shot attempts at 5-on-5 and ranks second to Jordan Staal in scoring chances.
His 5-on-5 prowess is especially important tonight. Refs tend to put whistles away in elimination games, which leads to less special teams and more full-strength hockey.
Hall has been Carolina’s best shot-generator throughout the entire playoffs, and the edge is even more decisive on the road, where Sebastian Aho’s line tends to draw the toughest matchups.
I see value in backing Hall to +310.
Goal scorer pick: Seth Jarvis (+215)
Rod Brind ‘Amour has given Seth Jarvis more ice time than any other forward in this series. He’s playing a lot at 5-on-5, he’s featured on both special teams units, and he is defending leads late.
That kind of usage makes him a scoring threat regardless of the game circumstances. Even if Carolina is conservative while playing from ahead, Jarvis will be among those first over the boards in empty-net situations.
He is also a prime regression candidate. He has converted 47 scoring chances and 6.16 expected goals into just four goals these playoffs.
With Carter Hart struggling to find his game, and Jarvis seeing top-tier usage, he’s someone I want to get behind.
Bet to +200.
Goal scorer pick: Jack Eichel (+215)
Jack Eichel hasn’t scored in the Stanley Cup Final but it’s not for a lack of opportunities. He has taken 25 shot attempts and generated 14 scoring chances, ranking him near the top of the Vegas Golden Knights in both categories.
He also leads the team in offensive zone faceoffs and percentage of draws taken in the offensive zone. John Tortorella is doing his best to put Eichel in good spots to produce.
Eichel has scored on only 4% of his shots in the playoffs after finishing at a 10.38% rate during the regular season.
There's no better time for him to break through than in a do-or-die Game 6. I'd play Eichel to +200.
Hurricanes vs Golden Knights anytime goal parlay
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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