Stanley Cup Final: Hurricanes vs Golden Knights

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final opens Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Vegas Golden Knights, according to the NHL. Carolina has home-ice advantage because it finished with more regular-season points, and the league said the Hurricanes will host Games 1 and 2 and, if needed, Games 5 and 7. Every game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will air on ABC in the United States. ### Why does Carolina start at home? The NHL said Carolina earned home ice based on regular-season points, putting the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Raleigh. NBC Philadelphia also reported that Game 1 will be played there on Tuesday, June 2. Raleigh matters because this is Carolina’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 20 years, NBC Philadelphia reported. (nhl.com) The Hurricanes reached the final after beating Montreal in five games in the Eastern Conference final. ### How hot are these teams entering the series? (nhl.com) Yahoo Sports, citing AP reporting, said Carolina has won 12 of 13 playoff games, while Vegas has won 12 of 16. The same report said Vegas swept the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final. Vegas has also won 19 of 24 games since John Tortorella took over as coach in late March, Yahoo Sports reported. (nbcphiladelphia.com) Carolina, meanwhile, closed out Montreal with four straight wins to secure the Eastern title. ### What numbers stand out most before the puck drops? Yahoo Sports reported Carolina’s penalty kill is operating at 92.5% in the playoffs, with only four power-play goals allowed and one shorthanded goal scored. (sports.yahoo.com) In the same report, AP said the Hurricanes have allowed the fewest goals in the postseason and Vegas the third-fewest, while both teams are scoring more than three goals a game. (sports.yahoo.com) AP also described the matchup as the 68th unique pairing in Stanley Cup Final history, according to the source briefing’s cited report. That gives the series a place in league history before either team has won a game. ### What is Vegas bringing into the matchup? The Golden Knights arrive after a sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche, according to NHL.com and Yahoo Sports. (sports.yahoo.com) That result gave Vegas extra rest before the final and sent it into the series without a loss in the West final. Yahoo Sports reported former NHL player and NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said he would give “an edge to Vegas,” though he added he was not certain. (nhl.com) That view was tied to Vegas’ form and roster strength entering the series. ### When and where can people watch the series? The NHL said every game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final will start at 8 p.m. (nhl.com) ET. The league said ABC will carry the games in the United States, while Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports will air them in Canada. Game 1 is set for Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, and the series then shifts to Las Vegas for Games 3 and 4, with Game 6 there as well if necessary, the NHL said. (sports.yahoo.com) Carolina would host Games 5 and 7 if the series goes that far. (nhl.com)