Hurricanes content to ‘let noise take care of itself,’ focus on Golden Knights
The Carolina Hurricanes had a day off Saturday to rest and recharge after winning the Eastern Conference championship in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But that was it; no 11-day break this time. While not on the ice, it was back to work off the ice Sunday as the Canes more quickly gear up for the Stanley Cup Final matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
“It’s a big accomplishment, but there’s a lot of work ahead,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said Sunday. “We enjoyed it for an evening, for a day off, but woke up this morning knowing what we have ahead.“
The Hurricanes will host the first two games of the Cup Final, thanks to the Golden Knights. Vegas swept past the Colorado Avalanche — the Presidents’ Trophy winner this season with an NHL-best 121 points — in the Western Conference Final.
Had the Avs won, the Canes would be headed to Denver for the first two games of the Cup Final on the road. But the Golden Knights changed that scenario in decisive fashion and headed to Raleigh — Game 1 is Tuesday and Game 2 on Thursday at Lenovo Center.
The Canes, with Rod Brind’Amour the head coach the past eight years, have reached the playoffs but fell short in the conference final in 2019, 2023 and 2025, as has been well-chronicled. But they’ve put together a 12-1 playoff record this year, gotten past that hurdle and are in their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006, their Cup-winning year.
“Over the last eight years, it’s been building and building and we’ve been close and knocking at the door,” defenseman Jaccob Slavin said Sunday. “I think we just have the right personnel, the right commitment, the right buy-in, because our game really hasn’t changed over the last eight years.
“You’re probably seeing something you haven’t seen in previous years of consistency through all parts of the game, through goaltending, through special teams, through 5-on-5. You see that consistency.”
The Canes had a stumbling start in the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens as the long time off between series resulted in some sluggishness and rust. The Canadiens were “battle-tested” after winning a pair of seven-game series, as Brind’Amour put it, and it showed in Montreal’s 6-2 win.
The Canes took over from there, clamping down and reeling off four straight wins. They’re 6-1 at home and 6-0 on the road in the playoffs.
The 13 games needed to reach the Cup Final were the fewest of any NHL team since 2002-2003. Four other teams, including the Avs in 2002, needed 14 games.
Staal won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and Canes forward Will Carrier with the Golden Knights in 2023. Entering a Cup Final, Staal said, is a different animal from any other playoff round.
Hurricanes ‘let the noise take care of itself’
The media coverage is more intense, even if the Montreal media saturated the Triangle in big numbers for the conference finals. Family can roll in for the games. Extra tickets are needed.
“Obviously with more magnitude there’s more noise outside the game,” Staal said. “When the puck drops the games are eerily similar, and you can let the rest of the noise take care of itself.”
The best-of-seven Cup Final begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Lenovo Center, which will be packed — upper-level tickets for Game 1 are being listed for more than $1,000 apiece on StubHub.
“That’s part of the noise, as well, and there’s times where you might say no,” Staal said. “But everybody wants to be a part of a cool thing, and I get it. It’s exciting times, and you want all your family and friends and people close around you. But ultimately it’s keeping your focus on the series ahead.”
For those without tickets, a Hurricanes Watch Party has been planned for Moore Square in downtown Raleigh for each of the first two games, with a 7 p.m. start.
How the Golden Knights got here
The Golden Knights, who beat the Canes twice early in the regular season, went through am abrupt coaching change in March — out with Bruce Cassidy, in with John Tortorella — and finished with a 39-26-17 record and 95 points. A late push was enough to edge out the Edmonton Oilers by two points in winning the Pacific Division.
In the playoffs, the Golden Knights topped the Utah Mammoth in the opening round, winning the last three games of that series. They then had another six-game series with the Anaheim Ducks, winning the last two games.
Vegas began the Western Conference final on the road, winning twice in Denver, then finished off the Avs at home. The Golden Knights outscored the Avalanche 14-7 in the series.
The Golden Knights’ 12 playoff wins include a 3-0 record in overtime. The Canes were 5-0 in overtime.
“The matchup is great,” Slavin said. “It’s going to be a grind, going to be a battle. You watch them play the game and they play the right way. They’re above guys, they’re dumping pucks in, they’re hard on the forecheck.
“There’s little differences, but they play a very similar style to us so it’s going to be who can do it better and who can stay on it. It’s going to be an awesome series, fun hockey.”
