John Tortorella Makes Bold Promise to Hockey Fans
The Carolina Hurricanes took a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals when they beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 on June 11.
The Hurricanes are now one win away from winning the franchise's second-ever Stanley Cup, while the Golden Knights face a must-win situation in Game 6 to keep the series alive.
But the tough loss in Game 5 didn't deter Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella, who promised the NHL world that this series would go seven games.
John Tortorella Guarantees Game 7 of NHL Stanley Cup Finals
Speaking to reporters following the team's Game 5 loss, Tortorella assured hockey fans everywhere that they will be getting their money's worth, as he guaranteed this series would go the full seven games.
I'm going to leave my clothes here."
"We've got to find a way. I'm going to leave my clothes here (in Raleigh). That's for sure. They'll be in the hotel," Tortorella said.
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Despite being down 3-2 in the series, Tortorella can draw from his own personal experience of coming back from being down in the Stanley Cup Finals.
In 2004, while coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts came back from being down 3-2 to beat the Calgary Flames in seven games and capture Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup.
22 years later, and Tortorella will now try to do the same thing for the Golden Knights as he looks to win his second Stanley Cup as an NHL head coach.
He's supremely confident that, despite the hole his team is in right now, they can blaze a path to victory.
"We're just going to get ready for our next game. We'll be back here. We've just got to do it in a different order," Tortorella said.
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No Goalie Change Expected for Vegas in Game 6
Heading into the Stanley Cup Finals, one of the biggest reasons why Vegas had done so well in the playoffs was the performance of starting goalie Carter Hart, who had been untouchable through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
But in the Stanley Cup Finals, Hart has struggled, becoming the first goalie in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history to allow 4+ goals in the first five games of the finals.
Despite his struggles, Tortorella is standing by his man.
When asked by a reporter following the Golden Knights' Game 5 loss to Carolina if he would consider going with backup Adin Hill in Game 6, the fiery Tortorella immediately shot back at any thought of switching goaltenders.
"Oh, for Christ -- that could be the stupidest question I've heard," Tortorella quipped.
Although Hart has not been good in the finals, the coach is clearly not putting all of the blame for his team's deficit on him. In Tortorella's mind, it's a team game, and everyone is a part of both the wins and losses.
Yes, Hart could be playing better right now. But he still gives Vegas a much better chance to win than Hill, the team's backup, does.
Hill may have helped Vegas win its first Stanley Cup in 2003, but he's not the same goalie he once was three years ago.
The question from the reporter if there would be a change in Vegas' crease was not as poor as Tortorella thought, as it gave us the clarity we needed if there was any shred of doubt that the Golden Knights were considering switching up their goalies.
Now, we know for sure that Hart is Vegas' man in net in Game 6 as the Golden Knights look to stave off elimination, and it all goes down at 8 p.m. ET on June 14.
Related: Villainous Golden Knights Strike First in Stanley Cup Finals
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 2:36 PM.