Carolina Hurricanes face Vegas Golden Knights in 2026 Stanley Cup finals opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 4:00 PM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
Game 1 of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup finals starts tonight with the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights competing for the title. The Hurricanes bring a strong postseason showing, having lost only one game thus far, while the Golden Knights have shown resilience following a coaching change. Experts predict various outcomes, with some favoring Carolina's depth and others backing Vegas's structured play and standout performances from players like Mitch Marner and Carter Hart. The winner of the series will earn the coveted Stanley Cup, while the Conn Smythe Trophy is also up for grabs for the playoff MVP.
- •Game 1 set for tonight in the 2026 Stanley Cup finals.
- •Hurricanes lost only one game this postseason.
- •Golden Knights have strong performances from Carter Hart and Mitch Marner.
- •Experts divided on predictions for series outcome.
- •Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy on the line.
- 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — Experts picks for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup finals, Conn Smythe Trophy
"The NHL Stanley Cup finals begin tonight, as the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights chase their second Stanley Cup. Before they begin, experts from The Sporting News and The Hockey News make their picks for who will win the Cup and who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
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