NHL Sets June 2 Stanley Cup Final Opener After Hurricanes Clinch Vegas Matchup
Updated
Updated · Russian Machine Never Breaks · May 30
NHL Sets June 2 Stanley Cup Final Opener After Hurricanes Clinch Vegas Matchup
13 articles · Updated · Russian Machine Never Breaks · May 30
June 2 will open the 2026 Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh after Carolina crushed Montreal 6-1 in Game 5 to book a showdown with Vegas.
113 regular-season points gave the Hurricanes home-ice advantage over the 95-point Golden Knights, putting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at Lenovo Center.
Carolina reached its first Final since its 2006 title after going 12-1 this postseason, while Vegas returns for the first time since winning the Cup in 2023.
8 p.m. ET is the start time for every game in the best-of-seven series, with U.S. coverage on ABC and Canadian broadcasts on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.
A coaching change versus a dominant system: which team's strategy will ultimately lift the Stanley Cup?
Will Vegas's long layoff lead to fatal rust against the nearly undefeated Carolina Hurricanes?
After a 20-year wait, can Carolina's young stars solve the aggressive defense that shut down Colorado?