* It’s a simple recipe for both teams in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. A win for Carolina will give them their second championship and first in 20 years. For Vegas, win to keep their shot at a second Stanley Cup alive.

* After five historic contests to begin the Final, Game 6 will be played on the 20th anniversary of Carolina’s first-ever potential Cup-clinching game – with the Hurricanes hoping for a different fate.

* A long list of records are within reach before the Stanley Cup is presented, either today in Las Vegas or Wednesday in Raleigh, with Jordan Staal, Logan Stankoven, Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel among those in pursuit of a new benchmark to go along with hockey’s most sought-after prize.

* Game 6 will air at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports and CBC, as well as on NHL in ASL (U.S.: ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited plan subscribers; Canada: Sportsnet+). Click here for highlights from the NHL in ASL coverage of the Final so far.

VEGAS CAN PUSH HISTORIC STANLEY CUP FINAL TO GAME 7
After five straight history-making games to start to the Stanley Cup Final, it could come down to Sunday night in Las Vegas to crown a 2026 champion.

* The Golden Knights started the series as the first visiting team in Final history to stage a multi-goal comeback win in Game 1 and, to extend the NHL season by one more game, now must become the 19th team to force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final. Twelve of the 18 teams that won Game 6 to stay alive in the Final did so on home ice, most recently the Oilers in 2024.

* Each of the past three teams to force Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final scored at least five goals in Game 6: the Oilers won 5-1 in 2024 (vs. FLA), while the Bruins won 5-1 in 2019 (at STL) and 5-2 in 2011 (vs. VAN). The last one-goal decision to force Game 7 of the Cup Final was in 2009 when Jordan Staal scored the opening goal for the Penguins in an eventual 2-1 home win before the club headed to Detroit to win Game 7. That was Staal’s last goal in the Final before his record-tying goal streak this year.

* Vegas is 1-1 in Game 6 when facing a 3-2 series deficit. Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone had the goals to go along with an Adin Hill shutout in their lone victory, on home ice against the Stars in the 2024 First Round.

* The Golden Knights will look for a hero similar to what the Oilers had exactly 20 years ago today. On June 14, 2006, Fernando Pisani scored the first and last goals in a back-and-forth Game 5 thriller in Raleigh to prevent the Hurricanes from winning their first-ever potential Cup-clincher. Much like this series, that game alone featured a number of memorable moments: Pisani scored 16 seconds in (one of the fastest goals in Final history), the teams combined for five goals in the opening frame (both tying and taking a lead), Eric Staal delivered a 2-1—3 performance for the Hurricanes including two tying goals and Pisani scored the first shorthanded overtime goal in Final history to extend the series.

* Mitch Marner is the top scorer at home (4-8—12 in 10 GP), on the road (6-11—17 in 11 GP) and overall (10-19—29 in 21 GP) in these playoffs, entering his first elimination game with Vegas. He has the most points when facing elimination among all Golden Knights in this series (min. 1 GP in SCF) and is the only one on the roster with multiple game-winning goals to extend a series – including one to force a Game 7 (Game 6 of 2018 R1 vs. BOS and Game 4 of 2023 R2 at FLA, both w/ TOR).
 

* Contributing on the score sheet in a must-win game would also push a number of Golden Knights toward franchise records: Shea Theodore (6-12—18) needs one to tie or set club benchmarks for goals (tie), assists (set) and points (tie) by a defenseman in one playoff year; Jack Eichel (20 A) needs one assist to break his own single-season benchmark (Marner needs two); and, after setting a new high for goals in a postseason earlier this round, Brett Howden (14 G; 3 GWG) needs one to establish new plateaus for game-winning goals (career or single postseason).

CAROLINA’S CAPTAIN THE DRIVING FORCE TO POTENTIAL CUP CLINCHER

All but two players on the Carolina roster will play a game unlike any other they have ever contested as they play for a chance to lift the Stanley Cup tonight. Captain Jordan Staal and former Golden Knights blueliner William Carrier are the only Hurricanes who have played for a chance to win the Cup, winning their only such opportunities (both 1-0).

* Staal is on the brink of history on many fronts entering Game 6: he can become the first player in Stanley Cup Final history with a six-game goal streak; he can set a new benchmark for goals in a Final at age 37-plus; he can tie the modern era record for most goals by any player in a Final; he can become the first player in NHL history to go 17 years from one Cup to the next; and, if he were to be voted by media as playoff MVP, would become the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in history.

* For his part, Carrier can become the fourth player in NHL history to win his first two Stanley Cups in the same building but for different teams. He would be the second to achieve that feat at T-Mobile Arena, following Chandler Stephenson (2018 w/ WSH, 2023 w/ VGK). The others: Gord Pettinger at Maple Leaf Gardens (1933 w/ NYR, 1936 w/ DET) and Art Jackson at the Detroit Olympia (1941 w/ BOS, 1945 w/ TOR).

* In addition to the performances of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake – who have combined for 18 points during Carolina’s perfect 3-0 run in clinchers this year – many other Hurricanes have had success with the series on the line. Blake (1.20), Seth Jarvis (1.07), Sebastian Aho (1.00) and Taylor Hall (1.00) all average at least a point-per-game in their career during potential series-clinching games.

* Aho, whose first goal of the Final was the winner in Game 5, has three career series-clinching goals which is tied for the second most among active players behind fellow Finn Artturi Lehkonen (4). Aho, the franchise leader in goals (12), points (18) and game-winning goals (3) in potential clinchers, is the only player in this series with multiple series-clinching goals to his name. Lehkonen (2022) and Jari Kurri (1987) are the only Finnish players to score a Stanley Cup-clinching goal, and Lehkonen was the last (from any country) to net a Cup-clincher on the road.

* After scoring the opening goal in Finland’s bronze medal win at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Aho can become the fifth player to win bronze and a Stanley Cup in the same season. He would join Frantisek Kaberle – who scored the Cup-clinching goal for the Hurricanes in 2006 – as well as Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Fedorov and Igor Larionov with the 2002 Red Wings (against CAR).

* Brandon Bussi could become the eighth goaltender in NHL history to have his first-ever potential series-clinching game come during the Stanley Cup Final and can join Joe Miller (Game 5 of 1928 w/ NYR) and Al Rollins (Game 5 of 1951 SCF) as the only netminders to win. The last American goaltender to earn a Cup-clinching win was Jonathan Quick with the 2014 Kings. Other potential achievements on the Game 6 radar are Logan Stankoven (11 G) pursuing the franchise goals record (1 to tie the mark set by Rod Brind’Amour in 2006) and Shayne Gostisbehere (3-9—12) approaching franchise marks for goals (1 to tie), assists (2 to tie) and points (1 to tie) by a defenseman.

QUICK CLICKS

* #NHLStats: Live Updates for Game 6

* William Karlsson absence ‘tough hole to fill’ for Golden Knights in Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final

* NHL EDGE stats: Jordan Staal’s case for Conn Smythe Trophy in 2026

* Golden Knights take ‘simple’ approach to Game 6 against Hurricanes

* Frederik Andersen ‘available’ to start for Hurricanes in Game 6 of Cup Final

T‑Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Puck Drop: 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT

Broadcast: ESPN / Sportsnet / TVA Sports

Series: Carolina leads 3–2

Carolina has pushed Vegas to the brink. The Hurricanes can close out the series and advance, while the Golden Knights face elimination on home ice in a must‑win Game 6. Momentum has swung wildly throughout the series, and both teams enter with contrasting forms and pressure levels.

Venue & Conditions

T‑Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, Nevada

• Capacity: 17,500
• Ice Conditions: Fast, but can soften slightly in late periods due to desert humidity
• Home‑Ice Impact: Vegas is historically strong at home in elimination games

Injury Report

Carolina Hurricanes

• Sebastian Aho — Probable (minor lower‑body soreness)
• Brent Burns — Probable (maintenance day; expected to play)
• Andrei Svechnikov — Healthy
• Frederik Andersen — OUT (season‑ending injury earlier in playoffs)

Impact: Carolina remains mostly healthy, with their top forwards available. Pyotr Kochetkov continues to carry the load in net.

Vegas Golden Knights

• Jack Eichel — Questionable (upper‑body; game‑time decision)
• Alex Pietrangelo — Probable (minor hand issue)
• William Karlsson — OUT (long‑term lower‑body injury)
• Logan Thompson — Healthy

Impact: Eichel’s status is the biggest storyline. If he plays, Vegas gets its top playmaker back. If not, their offensive ceiling drops significantly.

Team Records & Recent Form

Carolina Hurricanes

• Overall: 3–2 in series
• Last 10: 7–3
• Road Playoff Record: 4–2
• Trend: Strong defensive structure, elite penalty kill, excellent third periods

Vegas Golden Knights

• Overall: 2–3 in series
• Last 10: 5–5
• Home Playoff Record: 3–3
• Trend: Inconsistent scoring, heavy reliance on top‑six forwards, defensive lapses late in games

Series History (Games 1–5 Recap)

Game 1: Carolina 4–2 — Hurricanes dominate special teams

Game 2: Vegas 3–1 — Golden Knights respond with physicality

Game 3: Carolina 5–3 — Hurricanes overwhelm with speed

Game 4: Vegas 2–1 (OT) — Thompson steals the game

Game 5: Carolina 4–1 — Hurricanes suffocate Vegas defensively

Key Trend: Carolina has controlled shot attempts, expected goals, and high‑danger chances in 4 of 5 games.

Player Matchups to Watch

1. Sebastian Aho (CAR) vs. Shea Theodore (VGK)

• Aho has 7 points in the series
• Theodore has struggled with gap control
• If Aho wins this matchup, Carolina’s offense flows

2. Andrei Svechnikov (CAR) vs. Alex Pietrangelo (VGK)

• Svechnikov’s physicality has worn down Vegas’ top pair
• Pietrangelo must limit Svechnikov’s net‑front presence

3. Martin Necas (CAR) vs. Chandler Stephenson (VGK)

• Necas’ speed has been a problem for Vegas
• Stephenson must win transition battles

4. Pyotr Kochetkov (CAR) vs. Logan Thompson (VGK)

• Kochetkov: .923 SV% in series
• Thompson: .905 SV% but brilliant in Game 4
• Goaltending will decide Game 6

Betting Trends

• Carolina is 6–1 in their last 7 closeout opportunities
• Vegas is 4–0 in their last 4 elimination games at home
• Unders are 4–1 in this series
• Carolina has covered the puck line in 4 of 5 games
• Vegas has scored 2 goals or fewer in 3 straight games

Predictive Analysis

Carolina has been the better team at 5‑on‑5, controlling pace, possession, and scoring chances. Their forecheck has worn down Vegas’ defense, and Kochetkov has outplayed Thompson.

Vegas’ path to victory requires:

• Eichel playing and producing
• Thompson stealing a game
• Winning special teams (they’ve struggled)

Carolina’s path to victory requires:

• Continued defensive discipline
• Winning the neutral zone
• Aho/Svechnikov line driving play

Game Odds

Carolina Hurricanes                        – 113

Vegas Golden Knights                    6

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, June 13, 2026

NEW YORK (June 12, 2026) – A quartet of 2025-26 NHL trophy winners – Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (Hart), Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (Lindsay), Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (Vezina) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (Norris) are among the six players voted to this season’s NHL First All-Star Team. They are joined by Norris finalist Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and left wing Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars.

All six have been First Team honorees prior to this season, with Kucherov, Makar and Werenski being 2024-25 First Team members making a repeat appearance.

* McDavid earned his sixth berth on the First Team at center, the most among active players and tied for the second-most all-time with Jean Beliveau, Phil Esposito and Stan Mikita. The all-time leader at center, Wayne Gretzky, won First Team honors eight times.

* Kucherov captured his fifth First Team berth at right wing, also the most among active players. He is tied with Mike Bossy for fifth all-time at the position behind Gordie Howe (12), Maurice Richard (eight), Jaromir Jagr (seven) and Guy Lafleur (six).

* Makar received his fourth First Team berth on defense, the second-highest total among active blueliners behind Erik Karlsson (five).

* Vasilevskiy landed his third nod as First Team goaltender, joining Connor Hellebuyck for the most among active goaltenders.

* Robertson accepted his second nomination as First Team left wing and first since 2022-23, while Werenski’s two First Team berths on defense have come in back-to-back seasons.

Four of the six players voted to the Second Team are making their debut on a postseason NHL All-Star squad: left wing Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens, defensemen Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, and goaltender Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals.

Joining the four first-time honorees on the Second Team are a pair of stars who have earned their third appearance on the Second Team to go along with two First Team berths: center Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche and right wing David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.

Voting for the All-Star Team was conducted among representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the regular season.

The complete list of NHL First and Second All-Star Team rosters by season since their inception in 1930-31 is available at the NHL’s official records site, Records.NHL.com. The site also lists all-time and active leaders voted to the First and Second Teams by position.

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2025-26 NHL ALL-STAR TEAM VOTING RESULTS

(5-3-1 points allocation)

NEW YORK (June 12, 2026) – The National Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 NHL All-Rookie Team, including the three players voted as finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy: defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders as well as forwards Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens and Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks.

Also named to the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team are goaltender Jakub Dobes of the Canadiens, defenseman Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes and forward Jimmy Snuggerud of the St. Louis Blues.

Voting was conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the regular season.

Following is a summary of each All-Rookie Team member’s outstanding campaign:

Goaltender

Jakub Dobes, Montreal Canadiens

Dobes, a fifth-round pick (136th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, led rookie goaltenders with 29 wins – eight more than the next-closest player – in 43 appearances to guide the Canadiens to their second straight playoff berth. Only three rookie netminders have recorded more victories for Montreal in a single season: Ken Dryden (39 W in 64 GP in 1971-72), Bill Durnan (38 W in 50 GP in 1943-44) and Jacques Plante (33 W in 52 GP in 1954-55). Among rookies with at least 10 appearances in 2025-26, Dobes (29-10-4) ranked third in goals-against average (2.78) and fifth in save percentage (.901). He began the campaign with six straight victories from Oct. 9-28, the longest season-opening winning streak by a Canadiens goaltender (rookie or veteran) since Carey Price in 2016-17 (10 GP); posted an 11-game point streak, the longest by a Montreal rookie since a 12-game stretch by Rick Wamsley in 1981-82 (10‑0-2), from Dec. 14 – Feb. 28 (9-0-2); and earned seven consecutive victories from March 24 – April 9, tied for the longest such run by a Canadiens rookie over the past 44 years. The 25-year-old Dobes is the fourth Montreal goaltender who has been selected to the All-Rookie Team, joining Price (2007-08), Patrick Roy (1985-86) and Steve Penney (1984-85).

Defensemen (in alphabetical order)

Alexander Nikishin, Carolina Hurricanes

Nikishin, a third-round pick (69th overall) from the 2020 NHL Draft, ranked second among rookie defensemen with 11-22—33 in 81 contests to help the Hurricanes clinch their eighth division title and fourth in the past six years. Nikishin’s 11 goals set a franchise record for a rookie blueliner, ahead of the eight scored by Justin Faulk in 2011-12 (66 GP), while his 33 points placed second only to Brad Shaw’s 35 in 1989-90 (3-32—35 in 64 GP w/ HFD). Nikishin’s +18 rating additionally ranked second among all 2025-26 rookies (forwards and defensemen), while he finished among the top five rookie blueliners in hits (1st; 132), power-play goals (2nd; 4), shots on goal (2nd; 122), takeaways (2nd; 26), assists (t-2nd; 22), blocked shots (3rd; 94), total time on ice (3rd; 1,472:56), power-play points (4th; 10) and power-play assists (t-4th; 6). The 24-year-old Nikishin follows Faulk (2011-12) as the second defenseman in Hurricanes team history (since 1997-98) who has been voted to the All-Rookie Team. Three blueliners received the honor while the franchise was based in Hartford: Chris Pronger (1993-94), Shaw (1989-90) and Dana Murzyn (1985-86).

Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders

Schaefer, the first unanimous Calder Memorial Trophy winner since 1992-93, rewrote the League’s record book for production by an 18-year-old defenseman with 23-36—59 across 82 games. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer became the youngest blueliner in NHL history to register a point in his League debut, the youngest player (at any position) in NHL history to score an overtime goal and the first defenseman in more than 90 years to lead rookies (outright or tied) in goals. His 23 goals matched the single-season NHL record for a rookie blueliner (of any age), while his goal and point totals surpassed Phil Housley (17-40—57 in 1982-83 w/ BUF) for the most by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. Schaefer, who placed fifth among rookies in plus/minus (+13), achieved these feats while topping New York and all NHL rookies with 2,023:59 of total time on ice – more than 500 minutes ahead of the next-closest rookie in 2025-26 and the second-highest figure by any rookie since the statistic began being tracked in 1997-98. Schaefer is the third defenseman in Islanders history who has been selected to the All-Rookie Team, following fellow Calder Trophy winner Bryan Berard (1996-97) as well as Vladimir Malakhov (1992-93).

Forwards (in alphabetical order)

Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens

Demidov, a unanimous choice for the All-Rookie Team, led rookies with 19-43—62 while appearing in all 82 contests. The fifth overall selection from the 2024 NHL Draft became the seventh rookie in Canadiens history to register 60 points in a single season and the fourth to accumulate at least 40 assists. Demidov also finished 2025-26 among the top NHL rookies in assists (1st; 43), even-strength assists (1st; 30), power-play assists (1st; 13), power-play points (1st; 20), multi-point performances (t-1st; 14), power-play goals (2nd; 7), even-strength points (t-2nd; 42), game-winning goals (t-3rd; 4), shooting percentage (4th; 15.0% – minimum: 82 SOG), goals (6th; 19) and shots on goal (9th; 127). The 20-year-old Demidov is the third Montreal forward who has been voted to the All-Rookie Team this century, after Nick Suzuki (2019-20), Brendan Gallagher (2012-13) and Michael Ryder (2003-04). His selection with Dobes also marks the third time that multiple Canadiens players have earned All-Rookie honors in the same season, with the other instances coming in 1985-86 (Kjell Dahlin and Patrick Roy) and 1984-85 (Chris Chelios and Steve Penney).

Beckett Sennecke, Anaheim Ducks

Sennecke, the third overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, shared the rookie lead with 23 goals and ranked second with 60 points (23-37—60) while skating in 82 contests as Anaheim returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. Sennecke’s 23 goals matched the third-most in a single season by a Ducks rookie, while his 37 assists and 60 points both were one shy of the franchise rookie record established by Trevor Zegras in 2021-22 (23-38—61 in 75 GP). Sennecke additionally became the third rookie in franchise history to appear in all 82 games of a given season, joining Cutter Gauthier (2024-25) and Dustin Penner (2006-07). Among 2025-26 rookies, Sennecke placed in the top five in the NHL in even-strength goals (1st; 21), even-strength points (1st; 46), multi-point performances (t-1st; 14), assists (2nd; 37), power-play assists (2nd; 12), shots on goal (2nd; 197), even-strength assists (4th; 25), total time on ice (4th; 1,430:30) and power-play points (t-4th; 13). The 20-year-old Sennecke is the fifth Ducks forward – and second in as many seasons – who has been selected to the All-Rookie Team, following Gauthier (2024-25), Zegras (2021-22), Bobby Ryan (2008-09) and Paul Kariya (1994-95).

Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues

Snuggerud, the 23rd overall choice from the 2022 NHL Draft, ranked fourth among rookies with 21-30—51 and a +16 rating in 70 contests, highlighted by a rookie-best 11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points and +21 rating in 25 games after the League returned from the Olympic break. He became the seventh Blues rookie to record a 50-point season (and the first since Nelson Emerson in 1991-92: 23‑36—59 in 79 GP) as well as the 10th to post a 20-goal campaign (and the first since Patrik Berglund in 2008-09: 21 G in 76 GP). Snuggerud also placed among the 2025-26 rookie leaders in game-winning goals (t-1st; 5), even-strength assists (t-2nd; 26), even-strength points (t-2nd; 42), multi-point performances (3rd; 13), shots on goal (3rd; 169), even-strength goals (t-3rd; 16), power-play goals (t-3rd; 5), goals (4th; 21), assists (4th; 30), takeaways (t-8th; 24) and power-play points (10th; 9). The 22-year-old Snuggerud is the fourth St. Louis forward who has been voted to the All-Rookie Team, joining Berglund (2008-09), Jim Campbell (1996-97) and Rod Brind’Amour (1989-90).

*           *           *           *           *

2025-26 NHL All-Rookie Team Voting

(1 point per vote)

### (6/12/26)