Hurricanes Blank Golden Knights in Game 6 to Capture First Stanley Cup Since 2006

LAS VEGAS — Twenty years after their last championship celebration, the Carolina Hurricanes are once again Stanley Cup champions.



Backed by a 22-save shutout from Brandon Bussi and goals from Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers, the Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena to secure the franchise's first Stanley Cup since 2006.



Carolina weathered an early push from the Golden Knights before taking control of the game. Hall opened the scoring at 3:47 of the first period, finishing a play set up by Jaccob Slavin and Blake to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.



Vegas outshot Carolina 11-8 in the opening frame but could not solve Bussi, who turned aside every opportunity that came his way.



The Hurricanes strengthened their grip on the game in the second period, limiting the Golden Knights to just three shots on goal. Blake doubled the advantage at 13:31, snapping home a feed from Logan Stankoven for his seventh goal of the postseason and a 2-0 Carolina lead.



Holding a two-goal cushion entering the third, the Hurricanes continued to frustrate Vegas defensively. The Golden Knights generated eight shots in the final period but were unable to break through against Bussi, whose shutout performance earned him first-star honours.



Ehlers sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:52 of the third period, sending the Carolina bench into celebration mode as the final seconds ticked away.



Blake finished with a goal and an assist, while Hall added a goal and was named the game's second star. Blake earned third-star recognition after his two-point performance.



The teams finished nearly even on the shot clock, with Carolina holding a slim 23-22 edge. The Hurricanes also won 52.4 percent of the faceoffs, blocked 12 shots and killed off all three Vegas power-play opportunities. Neither team scored on the man advantage, each finishing 0-for-3.



Following the game, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.



For Carolina, the victory ended a 20-year championship drought and completed a postseason run that culminated with the franchise hoisting hockey's most coveted trophy on the road in Las Vegas.