The Vegas Golden Knights lost the 2026 Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
Goaltender Carter Hart started every game for Vegas in the series. The 27 year old Canadian faced strong pressure from the Hurricanes throughout the matchup. Carolina won Game 6 by a 3-0 score on June 14, with Brandon Bussi recording the shutout in net for the champions.
Hart posted solid numbers in the regular season and earlier playoff rounds after joining the Golden Knights organization. In the Final, however, the team could not overcome Carolina’s defense and timely scoring from players like Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. Jordan Staal earned playoff MVP honors for the Hurricanes.
The loss ended Vegas’s season after a run that included Hart’s return to form following time away from the league. The Golden Knights reached the championship round but could not claim the Cup.