The Carolina Hurricanes had already swept two rounds of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs before they even reached the Eastern Conference Final. But when they fell into a 2-1 series hole against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Cup Final, it wasn’t a veteran star who turned the tide — it was a rookie goaltender making his first career playoff start.
Brandon Bussi, who had spent most of the season in the AHL, replaced Frederik Andersen after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in Game 3. Bussi didn’t just stabilize the crease — he shut out the Golden Knights twice, including a 3-0 blanking in Game 6 that sealed Carolina’s second championship in franchise history and its first since 2006.
“He gave us a different energy, a calmness back there,” a team source told reporters after the trophy presentation in Raleigh. “We just fed off it.”
How the Hurricanes Dominated the Postseason
Carolina entered the playoffs with a devastating efficiency. They swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in the first two rounds, winning each of their first eight postseason games — a feat no team had matched since the 2008 Detroit Red Wings.
Their only stumble before the Final came in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Montreal, but they responded by winning four straight, eliminating the Canadiens in five games.
In the Final, however, the Golden Knights tested them. Carolina dropped Games 1 and 3, but the switch in net gave the team a jolt. Bussi started Games 4 through 6, and the Hurricanes never lost again.
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Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake each scored in the decisive Game 6, with Blake adding an assist. Logan Stankoven and captain Jordan Staal provided steady two-way play throughout the postseason. The Hurricanes lost only three games total across all four rounds — a testament to their depth at every position.
For a franchise that has often been a playoff bridesmaid in recent years — losing in the Eastern Conference Final or earlier in each of the last three seasons — this title felt like a long-overdue breakthrough.
The celebration in Raleigh is expected to continue through the weekend. The Hurricanes have not confirmed exact details for the championship parade, but city officials said planning is already underway.
“It’s surreal,” a veteran player said on the ice after Game 6. “We talked about this in camp. We believed it. But seeing it happen — it’s something else.”
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