NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 30, 2026, 8:44 PM ET
Stanley Cup Finals Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes stand favored espn.com to hoist their first Stanley Cup since 2006, installed as the odds-on favorite espn.com after sweeping through the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes' championship drought in Canada extends to 33 years after the Canadiens fell to Carolina, making the Golden Knights the slight underdogs despite their Western Conference dominance. Carolina's netminder Frederik Andersen espn.com has overcome tough lessons in conference finals rounds and health scares to position himself as an MVP candidate, while Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy espn.com expressed frustration that he cannot interview with other clubs after management declined reported requests by Edmonton and Los Angeles for his services. The series begins Tuesday on ABC espn.com, with analysts already dissecting the potential matchup between two teams that dominated their respective conferences.
Playoff Results
Vegas completes sweep espn.com over the Avalanche in the Western Conference finals, advancing to face the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final after Cole Smith scored with 5:45 remaining in the third period to secure a 2