Carolina Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup champions 2026 and they’ve did it one of the most entertaining series.

We dissect the series in Galbraith Report fashion as we cast our eyes over the big moments, what it means and where that leaves us for the summer.

Plus Jade finds out which Stanley Cup winner’s cousin he played with during his time in England.

This edition of The Galbraith Report covers it for you:

03:50: How Bussi helped Canes over the line Andersen/Bussi

08:30: Jordan Staal - Stanley Cup warrior

13:50: Jade’s connection to cup winning royalty

15:20: Vegas woes

19:40: The Carter Hart/Aden Hill conundrum

23:21: All the love for Brind’Amour

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We’ve seen 16 goals in two games already and this Stanley Cup Final could very be about to go the distance.

We take a look at what’s happened in the two games so far as Carolina Hurricanes head to Las Vegas with both teams locked at 1-1 in the series after an enthralling couple of games in Raleigh.

Who has stood out so far? Who is delivering the big moments? How sore is a puck to the face and should that Vegas goal have counted?

This edition of The Galbraith Report covers it for you:

00:32 - Game 1 almost goes the distance as Hertl fires VGK to victory

11:38 - Game 2 does go the distance as Jarvis fires the Canes to victory

25:52 - The Man-ny of the hour as Canucks announce new coach in Malhotra

27:56 - Jon Cooper, Jack Adams and the presentation that made us all smile.

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Sometimes it doesn’t need to be pretty, but it can be effective and if Vegas Golden Knights are going to win the Stanley Cup, they are going to need to take the rough with the smooth.

A breathless first game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final saw them overcome a two-goal deficit and a hostile Levono Centre crowd to get over the line and give them something to smile about in a 5-4 win that showed the character of the team.

After sweeping past Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final and winning six straight games to earn their shot at the cup, it was an unusual performance from the Golden Knights as Hurricanes used the early game energy to get them ahead.

The game was only 25 seconds old when Nikolaj Ehlers nicked the puck from Shea Theodore, charged down the inside left and fired his shot glove side past Vegas goalie Carter Hart.

The Canes were clearly energised as they took advantage of poor puck management from the visitors. Once again, it was another breakaway that left the Knights players and fans stunned.

Ehlers again was the culprit, sprung by Jalen Chatfield after he intercepted a stray pass and once more, Hart was beaten a second time.

They got one back before the first break as Theodore’s shot was deflected in off Eric Robinson’s stick, redirecting past Fredrik Andersen.

But crucially, Vegas didn’t do the one thing most teams might have done in that situation on the biggest stage. Panic, and their head coach John Tortorella relayed this post game.

“The foundation of our team, the guts of our team, has been through this before,” he said to NHL.com. “We’re down 2-0. There wasn’t panic on the bench. Those guys kind of lead the way by not panicking.

“They don’t say much. They just play, and I think other people follow behind them. I think that’s so important this time of year.”

The series is in its infancy of course, but Tortorella, who has guided this Vegas team to the edge of glory after being parachuted in to replace Bruce Cassidy in March, could well have earned his money with that composure and leadership, which could be fruitful down the stretch.

Whatever he said certainly worked as the Golden Knights hit back almost immediately in the second period and it was Jack Eichel who played a key role.

His pass for Ivan Barbashev got Vegas on the board in a move started by the #49 and it was honours even inside the opening minute of the middle frame.

Mitch Marner’s quick backwards pass allowed William Karlsson to deliver a quick finish and the Golden Knights were now in front - something that seemed unlikely in the early stages.

After sweeping through their previous opponents, winning 12 of their 13 games post season, there was absolutely no doubt the Hurricanes were in a contest now.

Captain Jordan Staal slammed in an equaliser for the home side, taking the pass from K’Andre Miller after Vegas had lost possession in their own zone.

Now it was game on.

While the Golden Knights had registered over more than half the shots on goal since the end of the first period, they carried that into the third period.

Andersen saved early from Karlsson, but the Canes goalie couldn’t do anything about Theodore’s lengthy shot that got a touch off Brett Howden’s outstretched stick to put Tortorella’s side in front once more.

The Vegas coach, who disagreed with more or less every call against his team, as he usually does, was unhappy an icing call went against his team which led to another Carolina goal as Shayne Gostisbehere, coming from the face off in the right circle that found the Canes man in space.

The minutes ticked down as the noisy home crowd did all they could to back their players. If only that chance from Seth Jarvis from Sebastian Aho’s clever drop pass had managed to beat Hart.

Up the other end though, Tomas Hertl came up with the big moment as he took the puck around the outside then made his way to the centre after leaving it with Colton Sissons.

Sissons instinctively played it back and the shot from Hertl flew over Andersen’s shoulder and into the net.

Vegas had done it. Game one in the books after overcoming some early adversity and that run continues, extended to seven straight victories.

The mood from Carolina, with game two coming on Thursday, was a relaxed one despite the loss. They know they’ll have chances in future games.

“It’s one game. Obviously, we would rather be up 1-0, but there are six games to go. We are fine with taking this to seven if we need to,” two-goal Ehlers told the media afterwards.

Of course, he and everyone knows a loss in game two to the Knights is going to make their quest for a first Stanley Cup in 20 years somewhat tougher.

FOUR TAKEAWAYS

1. We’re in for the hell of a series

If Game One has given us anything, it’s the prospect of an epic series between two teams who have been impressive throughout the play-offs. A nine-goal thriller really sets the tone and if we see more of this, we’re in for a treat.

2. Tortorella is great entertainment

You like to see a passionate coach in the game and John Tortorella on the Vegas bench hits every puck from the bench. He doesn’t like calls against his team and it was hard to be nothing but amused by his reaction to one of the goals his team conceded. You can’t say he doesn’t go all in. Can we have a separate camera just to watch him?

3. The Eichel Line

After being two goals down, Vegas really rolled up their sleeves and fought and scrapped to get back into the game, led by what was referred to as ‘the Eichel line’, consisting of Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Igor Dorofyev. They really made the difference in that crucial spell after the first break.

4. Canes really have a test now

After sweeping Ottawa and Philadelphia in the first two rounds and rolling over a tired Montreal side in the Eastern Conference final, there’s no doubt Carolina are in a battle now.

They lost the first game to the Canadiens in the previous round, but that could be attributed to rustiness after 11 days idle. This is a whole different proposition now and the Knights will take them all the way.

The Stanley Cup Final is here as Vegas Golden Knights head to Raleigh, North Carolina for the first two games in their series against Carolina Hurricanes.

As well as looking back on the Conference Finals, we talk to Shawn Roarke, Director of Editorial of NHL.com to give us the view on the ground ahead of this year’s epic finale.

Plus it was gold for Finland in the World Championships, woe for Switzerland, but ultimate disappointment for Canada.

01:45 - Vegas sweep past Avalanche to take final berth

13:18 - Burnt out Habs downed by rampant Hurricanes

26:54 - Shawn Roarke from NHL.com joins us from Raleigh

42:25 - Stanley Cup Final Preview

56:02 - Finland on top of the World as Swiss edged out in Worlds final again

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by Craig Anderson

It’s been a gradual process, but now the Carolina Hurricanes are as close as they’ve ever been to the Stanley Cup since winning it 20 years ago. But are they ready for the ultimate final step?

It’s hard to argue their form over the play-offs so far have been impressive and you can see every facet of the team is clicking and working like a well-oiled machine.

One defeat in 13 games in the post-season, two 4-0 sweeps and an Eastern Conference final series against Montreal Canadiens, who felt the effects - physically and emotionally - of two gruelling seven-game series suggests things have gone as well as they could for the Canes.

It’s not the intention to be disingenuous over what has been such a great run of form for the now Stanley Cup Finals, but there is evidence to suggest they really are about to step into quite the hurdle in the form of Vegas Golden Knights.

It’s why the final, starting on Wednesday, is eagerly anticipated across North America and beyond.

On one hand, you have a Hurricanes team who have been dominant in all previous rounds of the play-offs against teams who simply couldn’t match the threat they possessed.

Their only blip was in Game One of their East final against a Montreal team still fresh from a seven-game success over Buffalo Sabres where the Canes’ rustiness showed after an enforced 11-day break after sweeping aside Philadelphia Flyers and prior to that, Ottawa Senators with relative ease.

From there, the Habs became more and more visibly fatigued as their earlier exertions of two consecutive seven-game series with Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres caught up with them.

WATCH: Canes see off Habs to clinch Stanley Cup Final berth

That’s not to say they was a lack of effort. Their bodies and minds had given all they had, and there was simply nothing left in the tank.

It became a procession as Carolina punished any mistake the Canadiens made. The fact Montreal struggled to put any meaningful chances up in games three and fours showed you how drained they were.

Yet it could have been so different. Martin St Louis’ side were excellent in victory to take game one and went down in games two and three in overtime. A kind bounce in either or both of those games and the series could well have had a different outcome.

However, the Hurricanes took charge and never looked back. Now it’s a Vegas team that stands between them and a first Stanley Cup in 20 years.

There’s no doubt in Vegas, John Tortorella, their coach, will have pored over every aspect of this Hurricanes team since they clinched their own spot as they breezed past a surprisingly poor Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final.

As the play-offs have gone on and on, the Golden Knights have grown in confidence as they look for a second cup in the space of four years.

There are winners in their locker room who know what it takes to lift the trophy. After all, 11 players still in the team did it when they overcame Florida Panthers in five games three years ago.

Their route to the final has been a challenging one. After all, when Tortorella was parachuted in after the sudden departure of Bruce Cassidy with eight regular season games to go, did we really expect them to go the distance?

Vegas were down 2-1 to play-off rookies Utah Mammoth in the first round before rallying and taking the three games afterwards to move into the second round, where an impressive Anaheim Ducks didn’t make life easy on them either.

WATCH: Hurricanes celebrate clinching the Eastern Conference title

Golden Knights won game one, Ducks took game two. Vegas - including a Mitch Marner hat-trick were successful in game three with Anaheim levelled again in game four.

Then things clicked to take games five and six where they had to contend with President’s Trophy winners Avalanche, fancied by many to be in the final.

Truth is, Vegas were too good for them over the four games that saw them sweep their way to the final. Whatever magic that wily campaigner Tortorella has sprinkled over them is doing the trick.

With so many players hitting form at the right time - Marner and Jack Eichel leading in points and assists while Pavel Dorofyev and Brett Howden lead the way with goals to name a few - Hurricanes really are walking into their toughest test.

They haven’t had too much adversity other than the first game against the Canadiens, which you can put down as the result of their lengthy lay-off, but it didn’t take them long to get their groove back.

Behind the benches, Tortorella is chasing a first cup since 2004 from his Tampa Bay Lightning days, while Rod Brind’Amour, a cup winner with the Canes as their captain in 2006 would love to repeat that feat from behind the bench. Picking a winner is going to be tough.

Vegas has the form and in some cases, the experience. Hurricanes have the spectre of recent disappointments to fall back on, which carries that determination to get it over the line. It’s the ultimate test for both teams.

Who will have the staying power to see it through is what will make this final one of the most exciting for years.

The Conference finals have delivered so far as the final four look to be the last two standing in competing for the Stanley Cup final.

Colorado Avalanche’s promise seems to be evaporating before our eyes in the face of a rampant Vegas Golden Knights while it’s all to play for in the East between Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, where you can hear us say nice things about Habs goalie Jakub Dobeš.

01:00 - Avs on the brink as Knights set for cup tilt

21:30 - Battle for the East as stars shine for Habs and Canes

38:23 - Canada and Switzerland going well in the Worlds, relegation misery for GB

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by Craig Anderson

It could be that Colorado Avalanche might have met their match in the NHL play-offs after Vegas Golden Knights made it 2-0 in the Western Conference Final series - but is there really a way back for them?

In sport, it’s often foolish to make knee jerk reactions in the immediate aftermath of a game, but despite looking like favourites for the Stanley Cup with some impressive and almost heroic performances, Vegas might just be their Kryptonite.

Yet, it’s hard not to appreciate everything this Avs team have given us all season.

The leadership of Gabriel Landeskog, the experience and longevity of Brent Burns (just over 1,000 consecutive games is nothing to be sniffed at), the workmanship of Brock Nelson, the stealth and execution of Nathan McKinnon - there’s so much to love about this team.

I would argue you would struggle to find any fans who wouldn’t want any of these players in their side.

That’s before you get to the steadiness and coolness in the blue line of Cole Makar, who has proved to be a huge miss in the opening two games of this West final.

But adversity seems to have hit them at the most inopportune time at such a crucial stage of the season against a team in the Golden Knights who are rolling, who now head back to Las Vegas in a wonderful position.

To put it into perspective, the last time a team came from a 2-0 series deficit at this stage of the Stanley Cup play-offs, having lost both their home games was Detroit Red Wings when they overcame Boston Bruins in 1945.

So where have they gone wrong in the opening two games?

It’s fair to say the seeds were sown at the tail end of their second round series against Minnesota Wild, where they lost game three and went behind in game four, before rallying late to win 5-2.

HIGHLIGHTS: Game 1 - Avalanche vs Golden Knights from Wednesday

They took the series in the fifth game, but only after going 3-0 behind, eventually getting over the line thanks to Brett Kulak’s overtime goal to win the game 4-3 and the series 4-1.

Then came Vegas.

The Avs went toe to toe with them, but that intensity wasn’t quite there. Yes, they were denied by some good stops from Carter Hart in the Knights net.

As soon as Dylan Coghlan found the net for his first goal since December 2021, it seemed like the writing on the wall. When Pavel Dorofyev added a second a couple of minutes later, the writing wasn’t so much pencilled in, it was inked in.

Vegas moved into a 3-0 lead - familiar territory for the Avalanche now - and they never looked back. Although Colorado pulled two goals back to get them to within one, it was still an overall lacklustre performance compared to what we’d seen from them for much of the season.

On Friday, the intensity and fire was there. They just weren’t sharp enough in the areas in front of the crease.

Sure, Ross Colton put them in front with a well hit shot from the centre after Nasem Kadri and Burns contributed with assists, but their profligacy was to be their undoing.

McKinnon, for one, was off the boil with only one shot on Hart and three giveaways. Only one player had more than two shots on goal - Landeskog with three.

For all they had spells of good and offensive play, Hart made a lot of routine saves. As long as there was only one goal in the game, Vegas still had a chance.

And then it came, almost with an air of inevitability about it.

There had been some talk about Jack Eichel’s goal drought, having failed to find the net in 11 games and only one to his name in this post-season, with assists propping up his tally.

HIGHLIGHTS: Game 2 - Avalanche vs Golden Knights from Friday

Then, would you believe, he was the player to score the goal that sent the momentum hurtling the other way as his finish from the right flew across Scott Wedgewood and into the net at the back post, with Ivan Barbashov providing the help.

Two minutes and seven seconds later, that fragile Avs lead had evaporated, caught on the break which led to Barbashev slamming his shot in bar down to give them the lead with under nine to go.

Rubbing salt into the wounds, Barbashev’s second goal and third point of the night sealed the deal on an empty net, making Colorado’s hopes of contesting the Stanley Cup Final that little bit slimmer.

After winning the President’s Trophy with 121 points and looking like the team to beat, history and form seems to be going against the Avalanche at the worst possible time.

Avalanche coach Jarod Bednar preferred to look at the positives of Game Two and knows he has to manage the expectations and, in this case, backlash heading to Sunday’s Game Three at the T Mobile Arena.

He told NHL.com: “It’s a fine margin for error, the difference of winning and losing. There are obviously things in the game, especially when you gave up two in the third period, that you don’t like.

“There’s a lot of that game that I really liked, and so you’ve got to keep chipping away at the margins and we need to try and win them.

“We can’t ride the emotional roller coaster like fans, right? You lose Game 1, you’re getting swept. If we win Game 1, we’re sweeping them. Like, that’s not reality. You have to deal with the task at hand and what’s to come.”

What Bednar perhaps won’t say, at least publicly, is their biggest challenge now lies ahead of them. Win in Vegas and suddenly things aren’t so bleak and there’s a chance they can pull it out of the fire. With the talent they have, they’re more than capable.

But if it goes the other way - and few would perhaps bet against this on-form Vegas side who have a new lease of life under John Tortorella - a miserable summer of regret lies ahead for a team who could well have had it all.

But who is ready to take it to the Stanley Cup Final?

01:08: Habs go the distance again

12:04: Carolina vs Montreal in the East Conference Final

18:49: Avalanche tame the Wild in 5

26:22: Golden Knights see off the Ducks/Tortorella media blackout

34:55: Colorado vs Vegas in the West Conference Final

41:11: Breaking news as Foote moved on by Canucks

45:38: Managerial merry-go-round

51:29: We love Matthew Schaefer

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The IIHF World Championships began this week in Switzerland as Jade talks Canada, Craig talks GB and throws some old names from the British squad at Jade from his time in the UK.

Plus we discuss how great Matthew Schaefer is

2:16 - Avs a step closer to West final

13:38 - Ducks and Knights all square

19:24 - Canadiens find their stride against Sabres

24:50 - Canes sweep Flyers

30:24 - Matthew Schaefer

32:21 - World Championships

37:41 - Canada look for improvement

42:41 - GB and some of Jade’s old pals

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Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres pick up victories, all square between Vegas and Anaheim and the Toronto Maple Leafs claim the number one pick from the Draft Lottery.

1:02: Avalanche see off Wild again

6:42: Sabres hit their stride against Habs

14:36: Ducks take flight over flat Vegas

20:59: More NHL awards nominees

23:22: Leafs win Draft Lottery

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Montreal Canadiens needed Game 7 to finish off Tampa Bay Lightning, setting up a mouth-watering tie with Buffalo Sabres.

Vegas Golden Knights are picking up momentum as they entered a Round 2 series with Anaheim Ducks, while there was no shortage of goals in Game 1 between Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild.

Plus, are Carolina Hurricanes set to sweep Philadelphia Flyers away?

There’s change at Toronto Maple Leafs which could have far reaching consequences and we pay tribute to Tampa Bay captain Victor Hedman.

01:23 - Canadiens see off Bolts in 7

09:28 - Sabres see off Bruins

16:28 - High rollin’ Vegas

23:01 - An Wild Avalanche of goals

29:34 - Canes two up on Flyers

40:16 - More NHL awards announcements

42:45 - Draft Lottery

45:53 - Change at Toronto - is Matthews heading for the exit?

55:26 - Victor Hedman statement

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Minnesota go Wild to reach second round, but did the Penguins fail because of their goalie choice? Who will come out on top between Montreal and Tampa Bay? Plus who could win in the NHL awards?

Check out the latest episode:

03:00 - Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights

13:22 - Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

24:48 - Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars

30:39 - Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins

39:09 - Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres

45:50 - Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

51:38 - NHL Awards

59:53 - Jade’s playoff highlight

* Please note - this episode was recorded on Friday 1 May, prior to that night’s games

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Jade pays tribute to LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar and will the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning go the distance in their epic round one series?

START: Hello

02:51: Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

09:08: Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres

15:14: Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators

24:04: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

32:28: Colorado Avalanche vs LA Kings

38:54: Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars

46:00: Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers

52:37: Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights

59:11: Water your Lawn - why mental health matters

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Who are the guys backing for the cup this year? Listen to this starter episode to find out.

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