A look back at the biggest —and wildest — moments from the 2026 Stanley Cup Final
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- The Carolina Hurricanes won the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, beating Vegas 4–2.
- The series featured quick opening goals, last-minute comebacks and record scoring runs.
- Near‑record television viewership and tens of thousands attended games in person.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will be remembered as one of the most entertaining of all time.
North Carolina won’t be forgetting it anytime soon, nor will the near-record number of viewers who tuned in on television, or the tens of thousands who witnessed the chaos firsthand.
The Carolina Hurricanes captured the Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4 games to 2. But only in the last two games did the Canes start dominating the Knights — the first four were truly anyone’s game.
Packed with quick opening goals, last-minute comebacks, record-breaking scoring runs and a whole host of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, this Stanley Cup series kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Here are some of the most memorable — and wildest — moments hockey fans aren’t soon to forget from this year’s Stanley Cup Final.
Nikolaj Ehlers’ quick start in Game 1
In the opening moments of the very first game, Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers stunned fans with a goal in just 25 seconds. It was the third-fastest goal to start an NHL championship series, and it also made him the second player on record to score on the first shot on goal to open a Stanley Cup Final. It ultimately wasn’t enough, and Vegas won Game 1, 5-4.
The Canes’ Game 2 comeback
There were just 10 minutes left in Game 2 at home in Raleigh, and Carolina remained scoreless, trailing Vegas 2-0. But then, Canes center Logan Stankoven got the team going with a goal, narrowing the Vegas lead.
And then we had a game.
Canes center Mark Jankowski scored for a 2-2 tie. Jordan Staal scored on the power play for a 3-2 lead. And even after Mark Stone tied it for Vegas late, the Canes went into overtime with the confidence of knowing they were 5-0 in OT games in this year’s playoffs.
Ultimately Seth Jarvis’ overtime goal gave the Canes a 4-3 victory, and the series was tied at 1-1.
Caniac Nation grows
Caniac Nation has been waiting 20 years for a Stanley Cup — and its enthusiasm never wavered.
Every home game was sold out, with tickets on the secondary market being sold for thousands of dollars. And it wasn’t just the home games. Fans also sold out multiple watch parties at Lenovo Center for the away games, despite struggles getting tickets. No matter where the Canes were playing, Lenovo Center was as loud as ever.
The fans brought the energy. Energetic fans who went “tarps off” in Game 2 were credited by starting forward Seth Jarvis for securing the win for the Canes. And tailgaters didn’t let 100-degree heat waves stop them from having fun before games, with some even bringing pools to the parking lot to stay cool.
Some fans went viral for their devotion. Take the Evel Knievel-inspired “CaneEvels” with their large-scale tailgate parties, or the childhood friends of Jarvis, known as “The Good Ol’ Canadian Boys,” who attended every playoff game — some of whom might even lose their job for it.
Hat trick by Marner, 4 goals by the Canes, and all the insanity of Game 3
Game 3 was, in a word, bonkers.
After a scoreless first period, Knights forward Mitch Marner scored a hat trick in just the second period. Vegas came out of the period leading 4-0. But despite the significant lead, the third period belonged to the Hurricanes, who resiliently fought back, scoring three goals in 39 seconds and then tying the score 4-4.
That took the game into double overtime, with Vegas ultimately earning a 5-4 win off a shot credited to Vegas defender Shea Theodore that awkwardly bounced in off of Canes goaltender Brandon Bussi’s foot.
Andersen out, Bussi in
Speaking of Bussi, the goaltender quickly became one of the NHL’s best feel-good stories of the season, going from an undrafted NHL player to a Cup Final starter and champion.
His first career NHL playoff appearance was in the third period of Game 3, relieving Frederik Andersen after he had started the first 16 games. After sitting the bench for two months, Bussi nearly stole the game for the Canes. But while they lost Game 3, they won Games 4-6 — and Bussi started all of them.
Jordan Staal’s stomach goal
Game 4 was tied, 3-3, in the third period. And it was team captain and center Jordan Staal who came up big to capture the lead for the Hurricanes — with a goal he made diving forward and landing on his stomach. It was his second goal of the night, and certainly a memorable one.
The Canes won Game 4, 5-3, with Ehlers scoring the last goal on an empty net.
Bussi’s Game 6 shutout
In the series-clinching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Brandon Bussi didn’t let a single puck get past him. He managed his first career Stanley Cup Playoff shutout in the game that mattered most. And the Hurricanes beat the Knights, 3-0, to win the Stanley Cup.
Staal becomes oldest MVP
Jordan Staal took plenty of hardware back to Raleigh from Las Vegas.
Along with the coveted Cup, Staal was given the Conn Smythe Trophy after being named the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP. At 37, he is the oldest to ever win it. Staal led all players with six goals in the Final, including scoring at least one in each of the first five games.
But he didn’t just lead on the scoreboard. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour frequently praised his captain for his leadership both on and off the ice.
“I’ve been saying this forever, I don’t know where we’d be without him,” Brind’Amour said.
A jubilant homecoming
The Carolina Hurricanes’ homecoming was nothing short of triumphant.
It started as soon as the plane landed on Monday. Greeted by water spray from two fire trucks and hundreds of fans of all ages, the Carolina Hurricanes stepped onto the tarmac at Raleigh-Durham International Airport as champions, with the Stanley Cup held high.
And then, Raleigh partied. It started when Jordan Martinook, a veteran Carolina Hurricanes player, posted “Caniacs see you at teets at 10 tonight” on his X account. The post called fans to the iconic Glenwood South bar, which is owned by former Canes player Bates Battaglia and his brother, Anthony Battaglia.
Glenwood South, which was filled with revelers Sunday night, became host to an even bigger Canes celebration. Lines formed around the block from its Glenwood South location as players alternated lifting the Stanley Cup to screaming fans.
It was a celebration fit for champions.
This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM with the headline "A look back at the biggest —and wildest — moments from the 2026 Stanley Cup Final."
