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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 02: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Colton Sissons #10 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period in Game One of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on June 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Carolina Hurricanes find themselves in the same position that they did in Round 3, down 0-1 after a game one loss in the series. This time, they can not blame it on a long lay off. This time, the Las Vegas Golden Knights had the slow start but pretty much had their way with the Carolina defense the final two periods. Can the Hurricanes stop the bleeding?
The Canes certainly reversed things against the Habs and swept the next four games to win the series. They will be hoping to do the same starting tonight.
Don’t look for any changes in the Carolina line up. The same lines and defensive pairings took the ice at the morning skate.
Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Hall – Stankoven – Blake
Martinook – Staal – Ehlers
Carrier – Jankowski – Robinson
Miller – Walker
Chatfield – Slavin
Nikishin – Gostisbehere
Andersen
Most pundits around the league are asking, what’s up with Carolina’s “top” line. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis need to find some offensive consistency and get more shots on goal, if nothing else.
Other thoughts:
Jaccob Slavin has not been the human erasure that he is known to be. Hopefully he is not injured.
Fred Andersen needs to tighten up his belt and make a few more saves.
The powerplay units need to move around more and create some chances, rather than just pass the puck around the perimeter and hope that an outside shot finds its’ way into the net. If taking outside shots is the primary strategy, why not have Nikishin on a unit?
On the other side of the rink, it seemed that the Vegas players had no trouble creating time and space for their forwards. They also have the skill to finish those chances.
Look for their lines to be as follows:
Barbeshev – Eichel – Dorofeyev
Howden – Karlsson – Marner
Hertl – Sissons – Stone
Smith – Dowd – Kolesar
McNabb – Theodore
Andersson – Hanifin
Coughlin – Korczak
Hart
Here are a few tidbits from around the league.
Not that ESPN knows anything, but these are stats:
Pivotal Game 2
Teams that take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final have gone on to win 91% of time (50-5 record)
Hurricanes: 7-12 series record in best-of-7 when trailing 1-0
Golden Knights: 11-3 series record in best-of-7 up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/wy4tUqJeTD
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) June 4, 2026
It is an important game tonight.
This is worth a listen if you have time.
Hold on a minute here!
There are multiple watch parties to attend, including outside the Lenovo Center and Moore Square downtwon.
Game Time: 8 P.M.
Television: ABC; SN, CBC, TVAS
Radio: 99.9 The Fan with Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy
Game odds according to FanDuel: Canes -172, Knights +142
The bookies have changed the Knights to be favorites to win the series now.
(series odds – Canes +125 Knights -150)
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