Well, the Montreal Canadiens had a great run this spring. A run that took the NHL by surprise, but it came to a grinding halt against a superior team, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Habs can at least say that they weren’t swept, but they were still beaten four times in a row, something that hadn’t happened to them since November (that included an overtime loss, but so did this streak).

Martin St-Louis shocked most pundits by electing not only to stick with the same lineups but also to keep the same lines and pairings. Arber Xhekaj took the warm-up, but in the end, he was once again scratched. It’s strange that in the first round, when he realized that things weren’t going right for his group, St-Louis made the adjustments needed, but in the Eastern Conference Final, for some reason, he refused to do it. It doesn’t send a great message to someone like Brendan Gallagher, who has been biding his time, hoping for another opportunity to give his all for the Sainte-Flanelle.

Former Canadiens Goaltender Reacts To Lemieux's Death
Suzuki Named 48th Top NHL Player In 2026
The Canadiens Are Not There Yet

Groundhog Day

Straight from the puck drop, the Hurricanes had a two-on-one, and while they didn’t score, it didn’t bode well for the Canadiens. Within 10 minutes, the Hurricanes had taken a 1-0 lead, despite a coach challenge for goalie interference. By the end of the first frame, Rod Brind’Amour’s men were up 3-0 just like they were on Wednesday night. Carolina had 15 shots in those first 20 minutes while the Canadiens could only muster four, despite having two power play opportunities.

Essentially, it made it look like the game was going to be a remix of Montreal’s last three defeats, and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

Man Down

In Game 4 on Wednesday, it looked like Kaiden Guhle suffered a knee injury, and that’s more than likely why Xhekaj took the warmup on Friday night. Ultimately, Guhle elected to play, and in the second frame, he took a long time to get back up after falling onto the ice. When he got back up, pain was written all over his face.

He’s a hockey player; he was never going to want to miss the game. Knowing how high the stakes were, though, it was up to the coaching staff to tell him they needed players who would be able to perform at their best for this do-or-die game. If they’re able to keep Brendan Gallagher in the press gallery because he doesn’t have the same level of energy as he once did, they should also be able to tell a player he’s not fit to compete.

Back To The Basics

In the final frame, down 5-0, Jake Evans got a puck in space by the net, and instead of taking the shot, he attempted a backhand pass. That right there was the embodiment of what went wrong for the Canadiens in this series. Or at least of the things they could control that went wrong. Because make no mistake, the Canadiens didn’t beat themselves, the Hurricanes beat them fair and square. Still, you need to shoot to score goals, there’s no two-way around that simple fact.

And so ended the Canes' frustrating run of unsuccessful Conference Final appearances, with a 6-1 win in Game 5. Brind’Amour’s team will now face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final starting on Tuesday. As for the Canadiens, they’ll go back home to Montreal, hold their exit meetings, and then head to their summer destination to heal the bumps, bruises, and ailments they’ve no doubt picked up along the way.

While this wasn’t the ending they had dreamt about, this young team can still be proud of having made it to the third round in what was, after all, just the fourth year of its rebuild. Throughout those six weeks of playoff action, the young Habs will have picked up a wealth of experience that will no doubt help them progress in the coming years, just like their early exit against the Washington Capitals last season did.

The Canadiens and Hurricanes shake hands following Game 5 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ezYHNITvY6

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2026

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Ten years ago today, Nick Bonino brought the house down at PPG Paints Arena with a late game-winning goal in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins opened the 2016 Cup Final with a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks and it was quite the thrilling contest.

Pittsburgh was back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009 and the Penguins didn’t waste any time giving the home fans something to be excited about.

Bryan Rust opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the game and around a minute later, Conor Sheary extended the Penguins’ lead to 2-0.

The second period went more the way of the Sharks with Tomas Hertl and Patrick Marleau leveling the game at 2-2 headed to the final frame.

The third period was tightly played and it almost felt like the air in PPG Paints Arena was starting to reach a boiling point.

Then Nick Bonino blew the roof off with his late game-winner.

May the “Bonino, Bonino, Bonino” moment live on forever.

Scouts, exec assess fair value if Sharks decide to trade 2026 No. 2 overall pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

What’s a fair trade for the Sharks’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft?

Of course, odds are, the Sharks aren’t actually going to deal the pick: The last time that a top-five selection moved, post-draft lottery, was in 2008.

That said?

“Mike Grier is absolutely open to moving the No. 2 pick,” insider Pierre LeBrun reported in The Athletic on Wednesday, “depending on the offers.”

So what are fair offers for No. 2 overall?

San Jose Hockey Now spoke with three NHL scouts and an executive to come up with some reasonable deals.

Two trade scenarios seem to make the most sense for the Sharks: Trading back from No. 2 and still coming out with a high pick or dangling No. 2 for an established star.

Trade Back?

The Sharks, as an organization, are deep up front and shallow on defense.

So while there’s much thought that wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the top prospects of the draft, there’s also a handful of blueline prospects, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and Alberts Smits, who could well be future No. 1 defensemen.

The Sharks must also add to their current blueline, which has just two defensemen signed for next year, veteran Dmitry Orlov and rookie Sam Dickinson.

So trading back can still net the Sharks a high pick, which they can use on a top defensive prospect, and they can acquire some blueline help right now, too.

Could the Sharks trade No. 2 to the Blackhawks for the No. 4 pick, defenseman Kevin Korchinski and Chicago’s 2026 second-rounder — No. 34 overall?

“I think that would be a fair trade,” the executive said.

“I like this trade for San Jose,” Scout No. 1 said.

Korchinski would be an intriguing-but-risky gamble. The 2022 No. 7 pick has bounced between the NHL and AHL for the last two years.

“I’m only 50-50 that he’s a top-four guy [in the future],” the exec said. “He’s sort of erratic. Has trouble slowing the game down.”

That said, the 6-foot-1 left-hander is just 21, talented, and could benefit from a change of scenery.

Also, the Blackhawks aren’t likely to trade their top young defensemen, think Alex Vlasic and Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel, just to move up two spots in the draft. Meanwhile, the Sharks might still end up with their choice of defenseman in the draft, if the top-three picks are forwards, and they’re adding some quality assets on top of that.

In the same vein, could the Sharks trade No. 2 to the New York Rangers for the No. 5 pick, defenseman Braden Schneider and the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 second-rounder? That pick will be in the 60’s.

Schneider, unlike Korchinski, is an established NHL player. He’s 24, big and mobile, and averaged over 20 minutes a night this season.

But there are also questions about what the pending RFA’s ceiling is, if he’s more of a high-end bottom-pairing defender as opposed to a true top-four.

“He didn’t elevate his play last year,” Scout No. 2 said. “But he would be a stabilizer for the Sharks. Not a big numbers guy, [can be] second-pairing and kill penalties.”

Schneider could be a solid replacement for possibly departing UFA Mario Ferraro. Both are stay-at-home defenders.

“I like this trade for both teams,” the executive said.

“This one could be close,” Scout No. 3 said.

This deal might lose the Sharks their top choice of defenseman in this draft, but that could be acceptable, if they like multiple blueliners equally or if their favorite is a less celebrated one like Smits.

Win Now?

Or, the Sharks could get teen superstar Macklin Celebrini some real help right now.

There aren’t a lot of true No. 1 defensemen in the NHL, and even fewer potentially available for the No. 2 pick. So who’s a top blueliner who could be conceivably available?

Keep in mind, this is less likely than a trade back, and simply an exercise in ascertaining fair value.

Could the Sharks trade No. 2 and center prospect Filip Bystedt (or goalie prospect Joshua Ravensbergen) to the Rangers for defenseman Adam Fox?

Fox, 28, is a right-hander with a $9.5 million AAV until 2029. He has a No-Movement Clause next year, which becomes a 16-team No-Trade List after that.

“If I were San Jose, I would be scared to take Fox,” the executive said, remembering that the star defenseman forced his way out of the Calgary Flames, who drafted him, and the Carolina Hurricanes, before landing in the Big Apple. Is he finally ready to go West?

New York was one of the NHL’s worst teams this year, though Rangers general manager Chris Drury hasn’t signaled that the organization is ready to rebuild.

Fox is not considered by most to be in the class of arguable best defenseman in the world, Cale Makar, but he’s still a true No. 1, a point-per-game force who was the 2021 Norris Trophy winner and a four-time top-five Norris finalist. Despite these accolades, Fox’s reputation has taken a hit in recent years, as he struggled for Team USA at Four Nations and was passed over for the 2026 Olympics.

“Value is fair,” the executive said of the No. 2 and Bystedt for Fox.

“I like the Fox scenario [for both sides],” Scout No. 2 said.

If the No. 2 pick and 2022 first-rounder Bystedt, a good-but-not-great third-line center prospect, feels light for Fox, perhaps 2025 first-rounder and top goalie prospect Ravensbergen instead of Bystedt is more appropriate value? The Rangers don’t appear to have an heir apparent for veteran Igor Shesterkin, while the Sharks have 23-year-old Yaroslav Askarov tabbed as their starter of the future.

“I’m sure they’d ask for a higher-end prospect than Bystedt,” Scout No. 3 opined, “or a young player already in the NHL.”

That said, youngsters Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson or Igor Chernyshov, along with the No. 2, would probably tip the scales too much in the Rangers’ favor.

Anyway, remember these trade proposals are just exercises in figuring out fair value.

“I think all have some traction to them,” Scout No. 2 said.

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After the game 4 win over Montreal with a 4-0 score, Carolina Captain Jordan Staal was quoted as saying that his team was “playing like a machine”.

Well, the machine kept on running without so much of a hiccup as they finished off the Eastern Conference Final series with a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

After dropping game one, they finished up with four straight wins to close things out in five games. Their postseason record is now an amazing 12-1. Only three other teams in the modern era have accomplished this.

The Canes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. They outshot the Habs 15-4 and outhit them 10-4 in that key period.

Carolina’s second line continued to do the major damage as Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven contributed. Stankoven and Hall both had a goal and two assists while Blake chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Goalie Frederik Andersen had 23 saves on 24 shots and earned his 12th win of the postseason. It was an emotional night for Andersen, who considered the late Claude Lemieux like “family”. Lemieux also served as his agent.

The home team got things rolling about midway through the first period when Taylor Hall knocked in a puck from in close. The Canadiens challenged the goal for goaltender interference because Stankoven had taken the puck into the net and brushed Dobes. Apparently, the refs didn’t think there was enough contact to overturn the goal so the score stood.

About six minutes later, Stankoven would snipe one off a pass from Hall and it was 2-0.

Just a minute and change after that, Eric Robinson broke in alone and got another one past Dobes and it was 3-0. It was Robinson’s third goal of the playoffs.

At 7:19 into the second period, Jackson Blake knocked in a rebound off a Hall shot and the pressure was off at 4-0. Media members started making plane reservations to Vegas.

Just before the end of the period, Shayne Gostisbehere scored a powerplay goal when he snuck behind the Montreal defense to tap in a Seth Jarvis pass. At the end of the second, it was 5-0.

At this point, the partisan Carolina crowd was serenading the arena by singing “ole’ ole’ ole’ ” as a (tribute) to Montreal fans.

The Habs ruined Andersen’s shutout bid with a powerplay goal late in the game by Cole Caulfield, but Seth Jarvis would close out the scoring on an empty-netter.

The Canes will take Saturday off before preparing for the next series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights which starts Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center. We will have much more about that coming up.

After the game during interviews, each player to a man was very business like as they knew they had another tough task before them.

Game Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS030315.HTM

Event Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES030315.HTM

Interviews – https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0ooz4291rrb3ld5ujaf3d/ACOQahJeYtuujlOBt7OWbRg?rlkey=aa0m2dn4482jqnggu5xbartot&e=1&st=4lsqr73l&dl=0

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was playing with a heavy heart in Game 5 after the death of his agent, four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux.

Andersen came up with one of his better efforts of the Eastern Conference finals, stopping 23 shots in a 6-1 win that sent the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. It's also Andersen's first trip.

"I can't talk enough good things about this team and the way they've supported me," he told TNT. "It's been awesome."

Lemieux died at 60 on Thursday, three days after he took part in the Canadiens' torch-bearing ceremony before Game 3 at Montreal's Bell Centre.

Though Lemieux identified with the Canadiens as the team that drafted him and where he won his first Stanley Cup as a rookie, he had ties with the Hurricanes. In addition to having Andersen as a client, his son Brendan played for Carolina during the 2023-24 season. The Hurricanes paid tribute to Claude Lemieux before Friday's game.

Asked what Lemieux would say if he were still here, Andersen told TNT that his agent would tell him, "Just go get it."

"He's the ultimate competitor and he's got the biggest heart," the goalie said. "He wanted so much for me and this team."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Frederik Andersen wins clinching Game 5 while mourning Claude Lemieux

It's been covered many times over at this point that Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins seem prepared to mobilize in the trade market this summer.

Between comments about finding more players akin to Egor Chinakhov, saying he wants the Penguins to "take a big step" toward sustainable contention next season, and his sales-like pitch to prospective 20-something difference-makers, it's clear that they're prepared to pull the trigger on some bigger moves. And, yes, much is made about the Penguins' large cupboard of draft capital, their plethora of cap space, and wide pool of near-NHL-ready prospects all around the same age and projected to be, at least, NHL regulars.

However, the fact of the matter is that in order for the Penguins to acquire a game-changer in the trade market this summer t will require them surrendering a lot — including, likely, their 2026 first-round pick. 

Even if the Penguins have a lot of capital for the next three drafts - including 15 picks in the first three rounds - they still only have three total first-round picks. And for a team that hopes to simultaneously build for the long-term and take big steps toward legitimate contention next season, there is a fine line to walk in terms of acquisition cost. 

At the end of the day, better picks equal better players, and vice versa. And with a lot of talent, potentially, on the trade and the offer sheet market this summer, it may very well be the time for Dubas and the Penguins to consider going bigger in the trade market for a game-breaker.

But that probably also means the Penguins will be forced to give up at least one of their veterans, and, potentially, more than that in the process.

4 Prime Offer Sheet Candidates For Penguins To ConsiderAlthough Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas isn't known to dabble in the RFA offer sheet market, there may be a few situations for him to consider this offseason.

The Penguins' 2025-26 season was impressive across the board and defied expectations, as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Despite losing in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers, they made tangible progress in comparison to last season, but Dubas knows they still have a long way to go before reaching the contention level of a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, who just made the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

And a large part of that process, at some point, has to involve the Penguins' best talent skewing younger. The reality about last season's magical run to the playoffs was that their best players were still the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Anthony Mantha. The common denominator is that they're all above the age of 30. Again, the Penguins need those 20-something impact players who are going to make a difference in the short- and long-term. 

Offloading someone like Rakell or Rust should net the Penguins some pretty handsome compensation. If the trade deadline was any indicator of what returns might look like, they should return a first-round pick, which would give the Penguins flexbility to leverage one of their firsts and use the other one to draft. And this aligns with the short game and the long game for Kyle Dubas. 

What Would It Take For Penguins To Land 3 'Big Fish' In Trade Market?Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas made it clear that he is ready to activate in the trade market this summer. So, what would it cost for him to go after names like Auston Matthews, Robert Thomas, and Jason Robertson?

It's particularly beneficial to try and execute a deal before the draft, too, because having two first-round picks in any of the three upcoming drafts will both give them leverage they can use currently and give them more flexiblity in terms of moving significant draft capital. Should an impact name become available this summer, Dubas would surely be a lot more comfortable surrendering a first-plus if he already knows he has more picks to offset the loss of drafting a potential future impact piece. 

Simply put, offloading a veteran ahead of the draft will give them more margin for error and more flexibility that they wouldn't have otherwise. And that's no small deal when trying to build out a contender through both the trade and free agent market and the draft.

Of course - depending on the situation - it's very much possible that reliable top-six wingers Rakell or Rust get dealt as part of one of those bigger packages, involving that first-round pick. But the same applies to that line of thinking, too, as the Penguins would be subtracting in order to add sustainable talent to their roster. 

So, if the opportunity is there to dangle guys like Rakell or Rust prior to the NHL Draft at the end of June in order to provide a youthful boost to the short- and long-term of this franchise, Dubas should absolutely be all over it.

Penguins Have Trade Target To Consider In Bruins DefenderShould the Penguins make a push for Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei?

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The Hurricanes and Canadiens took a moment to pay respects to the late Claude Lemieux ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Shortly before the Hurricanes clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Final with a 6-1 win over Montreal on Friday, the big screen at the Lenovo Center displayed a picture of Lemieux as players from both teams stood at center ice. Lemieux spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Canadiens.

“The hockey world lost a great champion yesterday with the passing of Claude Lemieux,” Hurricanes public address announcer Wade Minter told the crowd. “Known across the League as a fierce competitor, the winner of four Stanley Cups and known to our organization as a father and advisor.

“Claude left a lasting legacy on our great game. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and every player his life impacted.”

The fans in the stands then applauded as the screen panned to an image of Lemieux at a Canadiens’ playoff game just days before he tragically died at 60 years old by suicide at his family business in Florida on Thursday.

Authorities previously told The Post on Friday that Lemieux hanged himself in the back of the warehouse of the home-design business in Lake Park, Fla.

Lemieux, a Quebec native, was drafted by Montreal in 1983 and won his first cup with the team in 1986.

“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors.

“He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”

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The 1993 Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup.

The 2026 Canadiens weren't able to repeat that, falling 6-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, and so Canada's championship drought lives on.

Canada's run ended one round earlier this year as Montreal bowed out in the conference finals following back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Final by the Edmonton Oilers.

Montreal pulled off Game 7 wins against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres and routed a rusty Hurricanes team 6-2 in Game 1.

But Carolina restored its aggressive forechecking in Game 2 and beyond, reeling off four consecutive wins and limiting the Canadiens to 43 shots over the first three wins.

Canadian teams already had a bad start to the postseason with the Toronto Maple Leafs' and Winnipeg Jets' playoff streaks ending. The Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers made it, but they were knocked out in the first round.

The Canadiens are out now after a promising start.

The Canada drought happened after teams north of the border won from 1984-90, including two all-Canada finals. After Montreal won in 1993, the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game 7 of the 1994 final.

Here's a look at Canada's drought:

What led to Canada's Stanley Cup drought?

The poor value of the Canadian dollar, compared with the U.S. dollar, hurt teams north of the border because their revenue was in Canadian dollars but they paid players in U.S. dollars. It made it harder for Canadian teams to hang on to their stars until a salary cap (instituted in 2005) and revenue sharing helped the smaller markets.

At the same time, there was a migration south of the border. Arena issues led the Quebec Nordiques to move to Denver in 1995. The Colorado Avalanche won in their first season there after trading for Patrick Roy. The Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona in 1996 and became the Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth). Canada got a team back in 2011 when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the current Jets.

Only one team can win the Stanley Cup and the United States has 25 teams to Canada's seven.

Which team could end the drought?

The Canadiens seems like a good candidate, even with their fade in the conference finals.

They're young, but they'll grow together, and Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson are already playing great. Ivan Demidov shows promise and goalie Jakub Dobes showed he carry the team.

The Edmonton Oilers always have a chance with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the team. They took a step back this year, leading to the firing of coach Kris Knoblauch. They'll have to find another solution to their goaltender and get a bump from the new coach. McDavid has two years left on his deal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadiens fall to Hurricanes, extending Canada's Stanley Cup drought

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have finally broken through their Eastern Conference Final roadblock. Now comes the chance to play for the Stanley Cup for the first time in two decades.

Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Eric Robinson scored in a dominating first period that helped push the Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 on Friday night, closing a five-game series that sent the Eastern Conference’s top seed on to face Vegas for the Cup.

Jackson Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere added second-period goals that pushed the Hurricanes to a 5-0 lead entering the final period, while Seth Jarvis scoring into an empty net with 3:41 left. Frederik Andersen carried a shutout until midway through the third in net.

Carolina swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs, then regrouped from a Game 1 loss to the Canadiens after an extended between-rounds break to win four straight. That included a run of 10 straight goals going back to Andrei Svechnikov’s overtime winner in Game 3 before Montreal finally got on the board with Cole Caufield’s power-play score at 10:50 of the third.

That made the Hurricanes the first team to reach the Stanley Cup Final with only one loss since 1983, according to SportRadar, and the only team to do so since the league went to best-of-seven series in all four postseason rounds in 1987.

It was a long-awaited moment for the franchise, which is on an eight-year run of postseason appearances under Rod Brind’Amour. The Hurricanes have been a perennial contender in the East, yet they entered this series having gone 1-12 in the Eastern Conference Final under Brind’Amour — falling in sweeps to Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023 before losing in five games to the Panthers in last year’s rematch.

But they were tested, and wounded, from those past postseason failures. Throw in their depth and talent, and the Hurricanes were finally ready to punch through for their third shot at the Cup since the former Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina before the 1997-98 season.

The last time the Hurricanes reached this point? Brind’Amour was the captain on a team that hoisted the Cup in a seven-game series against Edmonton in 2006.

After regrouping from a 6-2 loss in Game 1, the Hurricanes took control of the series from the young and skilled Canadiens — who had arrived at this round ahead of schedule after Game 7 road wins against Tampa Bay and Buffalo through the first two rounds. They won consecutive 3-2 overtime wins, then took Game 4 in a 4-0 road romp Wednesday.

Beyond the score, Carolina was getting to its smothering game in pressuring the Canadiens in their own end or shutting off most high-danger chances they could muster going the other way.

By midway through the second period, festive and rowdy Hurricanes fans were offering mocking “Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé!” chants with Carolina up 4-0. By the final two minutes, they were chanting “We want the Cup! We want the Cup!” as the Hurricanes closed this one out.

It's time to battle for the greatest trophy in sports.

The Stanley Cup is on the line as the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights meet up in the 2026 Cup Final, which begins Tuesday, June 2 (8 p.m. ET, ABC) in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Both teams have largely ripped through the playoffs to this point. Carolina is 12-1 in postseason play, its only loss coming in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals, while Vegas is 12-4. After two six-game wins, the Golden Knights swept the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals.

While the conference finals matchups didn't amount to much, the Stanley Cup Final figures to be a different matter with these two teams playing their best. So, who will win?

USA TODAY Sports' NHL experts made their predictions for the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights:

Stanley Cup Final predictions: Picks for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights

Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. Is any team going to be able to get a shot? The Golden Knights clog up the middle and the Hurricanes are on you as you try to get out of the zone. The Golden Knights have pure scorers, but the Hurricanes have the Taylor Hall-Logan Stankoven-Jackson Blake line and a better defense.

Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 6. I've picked against the Golden Knights every step of the way, so I'm giving them one last chance to make me look stupid. Carolina has looked like a juggernaut throughout this postseason, and the 'Canes haven't played down to anyone's level. John Tortorella has done amazing things with this Vegas bunch. But the Knights come up just short due to a timely resurgence of the Hurricanes' top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov after a lackluster start to the postseason

Jace Evans:Golden Knights in 6. The Hurricanes enter the Stanley Cup Final an incredible 12-1 in the postseason so perhaps it’s total folly to pick against them and they’re about to complete one of the greatest playoff runs we’ve ever seen. But, I’m doing it. The reason is my faith in the Knights’ top-end talent. They’ve been piling up points this postseason but also possess the defensive ability to stifle Carolina’s best offensive players. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see a few overtimes in this series. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stanley Cup Final predictions, picks for Hurricanes vs Golden Knights

For the first time since winning it all in 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes are once again back in the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Montreal Canadiens in five games.

Outside of a bad first period in Game 1, the Hurricanes dominated the series in one of the most lopsided conference finals in recent memory.

Even though it wasn't a sweep and two games went to overtime, it just never felt like Montreal actually had a chance.

Carolina dominated offensive zone time, they were more physical, they were more desperate, they piled on the shots while giving the Canadiens virtually nothing.

As the series went on, every sequential game just felt more and more lopsided, culminating in a statement 6-1 Game 5 victory for the Hurricanes.

Much like Game 4, the Canes started the game hot and before the first 20 had expired, they already held a 3-0 lead.

Taylor Hall started the run, popping home a loose puck off of Logan Stankoven power move, and not too long after, he'd return the favor, setting up Stankoven in the right circle to double Carolina's lead.

Before the period was over, Eric Robinson would add another, his third of the series, after outracing Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson for a high-flip clear and going five-hole on Habs netminder Jakub Dobes.

The second period didn't get any easier for the Canadiens either as the Hurricanes would add another pair, with Jackson Blake putting home a rebound off of a Hall partial breakaway and then Shayne Gostisbehere depositing one from the backdoor on the power play.

Just to give you a glimpse of how over it was, before the game was even halfway finished — with Carolina leading 4-0 and nearly tripling Montreal in shots — Lenovo Center erupted into "Ole" chants, the Canadiens faithful's normal spirited tune.

The Hurricanes will now advance to face the Vegas Golden Knights, with both teams looking to win their second ever Stanley Cup.

Game 1 is set for Tuesday, June 2 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is set.

The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL championship series, starting Tuesday, June 2 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Hurricanes, who finished with 113 points in the regular season, will host Game 1 and 2, plus 5 and 7, if necessary

The Golden Knights, who finished with 95 points, will host Games 3 and 4, plus 6, if necessary.

Both teams are 1-1 in the Final. Carolina lost in 2002 and won in 2006, in seven games against the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas lost in 2018 and won in 2023, in five games against the Florida Panthers.

Here is the schedule, dates, times and TV broadcast information for the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.

2026 Stanley Cup Final schedule: dates, times, TV information

All times p.m. ET

• Game 1: Tuesday, June 2, Vegas at Carolina, 8, ABC
• Game 2: Thursday, June 4, Vegas at Carolina, 8, ABC
• Game 3: Saturday, June 6, Carolina at Vegas, 8, ABC
• Game 4: Tuesday, June 9, Carolina at Vegas, 8, ABC
• x-Game 5: Thursday, June 11, Vegas at Carolina, 8, ABC
• x-Game 6: Sunday, June 14, Carolina at Vegas, 8, ABC
• x-Game 7: Wednesday, June 17, Vegas at Carolina, 8, ABC

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final schedule, TV info

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes advance to face Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final, beating Montreal 6-1 in Game 5.

With their team up 4-0 and seemingly on the cusp of the Stanley Cup Final, Carolina Hurricanes fans took a playful shot at the struggling visitors.

Fans at Raleigh's Lenovo Center broke out into a boisterous "Olé" chant during the second period — the same chant that is frequently heard during Montreal Canadiens games at the Bell Centre.

Hurricanes fans doing Ole chants with their team up 4-0 in Game 5 🫣 pic.twitter.com/dAgOP4Ien4

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2026

Carolina fans have plenty to celebrate. Up 3-1 in the series, the Hurricanes appear poised to book their first Stanley Cup Final ticket since they won it all in 2006.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes fans mock Canadiens with Olé chant during Game 5 blowout