The Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes will battle for the 2026 Stanley Cup starting Tuesday. Vegas reached their third Final in nine years after a 16-game playoff run, while Carolina needed just 13 games to advance. Mitch Marner leads the Golden Knights with 21 points, and Taylor Hall paces the Hurricanes with 16 points. Both teams feature strong goaltending, with Frederik Andersen posting a 1.44 GAA for Carolina and Carter Hart recording a 2.22 GAA for Vegas.

Carolina makes their first Final appearance since 2006, when current coach Rod Brind'Amour captained the championship team. The Hurricanes became the first club since the 1983 Oilers to reach the Final with zero or one loss, showcasing remarkable dominance. Their top line of Blake, Hall, and Stankoven accounts for 35% of the team's playoff points, with Stankoven's nine goals ranking third in franchise history.

Vegas previously touched the Clarence Campbell Bowl in 2018 and 2023, winning the Cup in 2023. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin could join Ken Morrow as the only Americans to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year. Nineteen of 20 Golden Knights had points in the Western Conference finals, demonstrating balanced scoring.

Game 1 opens Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The series runs through June 17 if necessary, with Carolina hosting Games 1, 2, and 5. This marks a significant moment for both franchises, as Vegas seeks their second championship while Carolina aims to end a 19-year drought.