Carolina Hurricanes clinch second Stanley Cup with 3-0 win over Vegas
The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, securing their second championship as rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi earned his third postseason win.
Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake each recorded their seventh postseason goal as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, clinching the franchise’s second NHL title. Undrafted rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi, starting for the third consecutive game, made 22 saves and picked up his third win of the playoffs.
Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal late in the third period, his eighth of the postseason. Carolina advanced to the Final after defeating the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, entering as the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.
"It's special, it's been a special year," Bussi said to ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan before the Cup ceremony.
Jordan Staal, the team’s longest-serving player, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Coach Rod Brind'Amour expressed pride in the squad’s achievement.
"I'm so happy for these guys. It just means so much to see how happy these guys are," Brind'Amour told Kaplan.
Hall, who has played for six NHL clubs, reflected on his first championship with Carolina.
"It's incredible. I've been kind of everywhere, and I got here and I really felt at home in a few days," Hall said.
Vegas coach John Tortorella, who had predicted a return trip after a Game 5 loss, saw his team fall short of a second Cup in four seasons.