The Carolina Hurricanes finished the job in Vegas with a 3-0 win in Game 6, and that was enough to lift the Stanley Cup for the franchise’s second NHL title. Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake each scored, while Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal to close out the scoring.
What made the clincher even sharper was the performance in goal. Undrafted rookie Brandon Bussi started for the third straight game and stopped 22 shots, earning his third win of the postseason as Carolina shut down the Golden Knights.
How Carolina Took Control
Hall and Blake each scored their seventh goal of the playoffs, giving the Hurricanes the kind of balanced scoring that had carried them through the postseason. Ehlers, in his first season with Carolina, finished the night with his eighth playoff goal.
The Golden Knights had entered the night trying to keep their season alive after a 4-2 loss in Game 5 on Thursday. Vegas also came in with a bigger goal in reach, hoping to win a second Stanley Cup in four seasons.
Vegas’ Push Falls Short
Vegas was guided by coach John Tortorella, who was hired late in the regular season. After Game 5, he had said he was leaving his clothes at the North Carolina team hotel in anticipation of another trip back, but that return never happened.
According to www.espn.com, the Hurricanes closed out the series by leaning on defense, timely scoring, and a rookie goaltender who kept the final from slipping away. The result sent Carolina to the top of the NHL again, with the Cup raised in Vegas after a decisive shutout victory.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.