2026 Stanley Cup Final Preview: Can the Golden Knights beat heavily-favoured Hurricanes?

It wasn't always straightforward, but at the end of the 2026 NHL Playoffs we have ended up with a worth Stanley Cup Final, a match-up between two teams with elite talent and depth. Sure, they might be located in southern American markets with a bit of a lesser profile. Sure, their jerseys might be terrible. But based on what we've seen from the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, the product on the ice should be exceptional.

Carolina have methodically built towards this moment for over half a decade, dominating the regular season and early playoff match-ups but always falling short. Over the years their pursuit of the type of skill needed to break through has been one of the more interesting stories in the league, and they seem to have found the right balance with their newfou