
Carolina Caps Historic Cup Run in 19 Games
The Carolina Hurricanes clinched their first Stanley Cup in two decades with a 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5, finishing the playoffs in 19 games—the fewest by a champion since 1988. The win validated Rod Brind'Amour's tight-checking system, showcased rookie goalie Brandon Bussi after Frederik Andersen's injury, and crowned Jordan Staal as the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner while underscoring a veteran core (Staal, Slavin, Aho, Martinook, Svechnikov) with an average top-20 age of 29.











