Hurricanes' Jordan Staal: Named Conn Smythe winner
Rotowire
Staal was named the Conn Smythe winner after Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Staal was tied for 22nd in points (12) during the playoffs, but he tied for fifth in goals (eight) thanks to an impressive five-game goal streak to start the Cup Finals. He didn't score in the clincher, but Staal did enough earlier in the series to sway the voters away from Vegas' playoff points leader Mitch Marner or any of the Hurricanes' other top forwards. At 37 years and 277 days old, Staal is the oldest Conn Smythe winner in NHL history. He is under contract with the Hurricanes for one more season.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers: Pots empty-netter in Game 6 win
Rotowire
Ehlers scored an empty-net goal on three shots in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
It's not every year that a big splash in free agency pays off, but Ehlers brought everything the Hurricanes could have asked for. His tally to seal the championship was his eighth goal of the playoffs, and he added 10 assists, 39 shots, 14 hits and a plus-9 rating over 18 appearances. He also had a 26-goal, 71-point effort -- a career-best year -- during the regular season. This was just the first campaign of a six-year deal, so expect Ehlers to be an early-round pick in fantasy drafts in the fall.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Taylor Hall: Tallies Cup-clinching goal
Rotowire
Hall scored a goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Vegas bungled a zone entry, and Hall took a pass from Jaccob Slavin to get behind the defense. Hall made no mistake on the shot, and his goal at 3:47 of the first period was the game-winner in the Hurricanes' Cup-clinching victory. The 34-year-old had a stellar postseason with seven goals, 12 assists, 55 shots on net, 24 hits, 14 PIM, 13 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating over 19 appearances. Hall signed a three-year contract extension in April of 2025, so he figures to continue to be a part of the Hurricanes' middle six in 2026-27.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Jackson Blake: Two points in Cup clincher
Rotowire
Blake scored a goal on three shots, dished an assist, added two PIM, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Blake had five points over six games versus Vegas in the Cup Finals. The 22-year-old winger made a name for himself in the postseason with six goals, 14 assists, 43 shots on net, 18 hits, 14 blocked shots, 24 PIM and a plus-8 rating over 19 appearances. Blake has already established himself as a reliable scoring winger, and he should be part of the Hurricanes' core for years to come.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi: Clinches Stanley Cup with shutout
Rotowire
Bussi posted a 22-save shutout in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Bussi won the last three games of the series to finish what Frederik Andersen started. The Hurricanes' defense did its part, and Bussi handled the rest to post his first career playoff shutout in the biggest game of his life. He allowed just six goals on 87 shots (.931 save percentage) over his four playoff appearances to help the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. After signing a three-year contract extension in February, Bussi is a virtual lock to open 2026-27 on the Hurricanes' NHL roster.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi: Looking to close out series
Rotowire
Bussi will patrol the road blue paint in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Golden Knights on Sunday, per Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News.
Bussi has won back-to-back starts after replacing Frederik Andersen between the pipes in Game 3. The 27-year-old Bussi has posted a .908 save percentage and a 2.18 GAA over three appearances during this series. The Golden Knights will have a few changes for Game 6 -- William Karlsson (arm) and Keegan Kolesar aren't suiting up, while Reilly Smith and Braeden Bowman are drawing into the lineup. Kaedan Korczak is also set to skate in a third-pairing role at the expense of Dylan Coghlan. If Vegas staves off elimination Sunday, Game 7 would be set for Wednesday in Raleigh.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Juuso Valimaki: Tallies twice in AHL loss
Rotowire
Valimaki scored two goals in AHL Chicago's 5-4 overtime loss to Toronto in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals on Sunday.
Valimaki has impressed in the postseason with five goals, eight assists, 33 shots on net and a minus-2 rating over 18 appearances. He'll need to keep chipping in on offense -- the Wolves squandered their home-ice advantage, losing twice in Chicago before the series shifts to Toronto.
Miftakhov was reassigned to AHL Chicago on Friday, per AHL.com.
Miftakhov gave the Canes four goaltenders on the roster ahead of Game 5 versus Vegas on Thursday, but he is expected to link back up with the Wolves, who are playing in the Calder Cup Finals. In 28 regular-season games for AHL Chicago this year, the 26-year-old backstop went 12-8-7 with a 3.25 GAA and .888 save percentage.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Sean Walker: Chips in with helper
Rotowire
Walker notched an assist and four hits in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Walker has been more of a defensive presence throughout the playoffs. This was his first point since Game 2 of the second round versus the Flyers. Walker has a total of three assists with 27 shots on net, 66 hits, 29 blocked shots, 16 PIM and a plus-9 rating over 18 postseason appearances in a top-four role.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Shayne Gostisbehere: Deals two power-play assists
Rotowire
Gostisbehere notched two power-play assists in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Gostisbehere's last five points, all helpers, have come with the man advantage. He had a hand in both of Andrei Svechnikov's tallies in Thursday's win. Gostisbehere is up to three goals, nine assists, 10 power-play points, 24 shots on net and a plus-2 rating over 18 playoff outings.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers: Distributes three assists
Rotowire
Ehlers notched three assists, including two on the power play, and added four PIM in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Ehlers had two penalties for putting the puck over the glass in this contest, but he more than made up for it with his generosity on offense. This was his second three-point game in a row, and he's up to eight points over five contests against Vegas. Throughout the postseason, he's produced seven goals, 10 helpers, 36 shots on net, 14 hits and a plus-8 rating across 17 appearances as a vital part of the Hurricanes' offense.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Jordan Staal: Extends goal streak in Game 5
Rotowire
Staal scored a goal on three shots and added five hits in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Staal scored for the fifth game in a row, a span in which he has six goals and an assist. He's the fourth player in Stanley Cup Finals history to open the series with a five-game goal streak, and the first to do that since Jean Beliveau in 1956. The legendary run has Staal up to eight goals, four assists, 35 shots on net, 84 hits and a plus-6 rating over 18 playoff outings. While playoff points leader Mitch Marner could still prevail, Staal is making a late case to get his name on the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Hurricanes can win one more game.
Aho scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Aho snapped a four-game goal drought with the second-period tally, which stood as the game-winner. He's picked up a goal and four assists in five outings versus Vegas in this series, so he's still done his part on offense as a facilitator. Overall, the top-line center is at five goals, 12 points, 36 shots, 25 hits and a plus-3 rating across 18 playoff appearances.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov: Tallies twice in Game 5 win
Rotowire
Svechnikov scored a pair of power-play goals and added two hits in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Svechnikov put the Hurricanes ahead with his second-period tally and added an insurance goal in the third. This was his first multi-point effort since Game 3 of the second round versus the Flyers. The winger is up to six goals, 11 points, 50 shots, 68 hits, 24 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 18 playoff outings. With members of the top line scoring three of the Hurricanes' four goals Thursday, Svechnikov's offense looks to be activated just in time to help close out the series.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi: Puts Carolina one win away
Rotowire
Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Getting the start for the second game in a row, Bussi again delivered a winning performance. He's allowed six goals on 65 shots over his three appearances since taking over in relief of Frederik Andersen in Game 3. At this point, the crease looks to belong to Bussi, who will have two chances to get the last win necessary for the Hurricanes to claim their second championship. Game 6 is set for Sunday in Vegas.
8:04
1:27
1:33
1:18
1:01
1:06
1:04
1:08
1:10
1:23
0:52
1:02
1:07
1:37
1:08
1:18
1:19
1:04
1:01
1:25
