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Mitch Marner Finishes Playoffs as Top Scorer
Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner finished the 2026 playoffs with a league-high 29 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 22 games. He was on fire throughout the postseason, though Marner couldn't add to his scoring tally in the last two games of the Finals. He finished just two points short of becoming only the third player in the last 30 years to record at least 10 points in his first Finals appearance. Marner earned 80 points (24 goals, 56 assists) in 81 games in his first regular season with the Golden Knights. This was Marner's first year in eight seasons without averaging at least a point per game, but his playoff form suggests fantasy managers can expect him to raise his performance levels in 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikolaj Ehlers Produces an Empty-Netter as Hurricanes Clinch Cup
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers was among the goal scorers as the team secured the 2026 Stanley Cup with a 3-0 Game 6 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. Ehlers had the honor of scoring the last goal of the Finals, sending the puck into the empty net with 68 seconds remaining in the third period. The Danish veteran played a huge role in the Finals, justifying Carolina's decision to pick up Ehlers as a free agent on a six-year, $51 million deal last offseason. He recorded four goals and five assists against Vegas. Overall, Ehlers managed 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 18 playoff games. During the regular season, Ehlers was Carolina's second-highest scorer with 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Taylor Hall Scores Game-Winning Goal in Cup Clincher
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall recorded the game-winning goal in Sunday's Stanley Cup-clinching 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The former MVP lit the lamp just 3:47 into the game. Hall had an impressive playoff run with the Hurricanes, posting 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in as many games. He won his first Stanley Cup after playing in 1,062 career games with seven teams. Alex Ovechkin is the only No. 1 pick to feature in more games before winning the Stanley Cup. Hall has two years remaining on his contract, and the Hurricanes will hope he remains productive next season. In his 16th NHL campaign, Hall managed 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 80 games during the regular season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jackson Blake Bags Two Points in Cup-Clinching Win
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake led the offense in Sunday's 2-0 Stanley Cup-clinching win over the Vegas Golden Knights, recording a goal and an assist. Blake helped Taylor Hall net an early goal and doubled the lead in the second period, becoming the first player in franchise history to record seven multi-point games in a single postseason. Two of Blake's multi-point efforts came in the Finals. The 22-year-old finished the playoffs as Carolina's top scorer. In 19 appearances, Blake contributed seven goals and 13 assists. His line with Hall and Logan Stankoven displayed fantastic chemistry throughout the Hurricanes' run to their second Stanley Cup victory in franchise history. All three are under contract for next season, and it will be interesting to see whether they can replicate their success.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jordan Staal Becomes Oldest Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in History
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal was named the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the NHL playoff MVP after the team clinched the Stanley Cup with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. At 37 years, 277 days, Staal became the oldest player ever to win the award. He earned it with a special performance in the Finals. Staal was the first player in 70 years and only the fourth overall to open the Stanley Cup Finals with a five-game goal streak. Against Vegas, he tallied six goals and one assist in six games, winning an incredible 69% of his faceoffs. Staal finished the playoffs with 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 19 games. Having won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2009 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Staal's 17 years between two championship wins mark a new NHL record.
Source: NHL Public Relations
Source: NHL Public Relations
Brandon Bussi Posts Shutout in Cup Clincher
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi recorded a 22-save shutout as the team clinched the 2026 Stanley Cup win with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. He became only the third netminder in history to record a Stanley Cup-clinching shutout in his first year in the league. Bussi's story was extraordinary in 2025-26, as he emerged from nowhere to become one of the best goalies in the NHL. The 27-year-old had a 31-6-2 record during the regular season and played in the final four games of the Finals, going 3-1 and allowing just six goals. Next season, Bussi will start a three-year, $5.7 million contract, giving Carolina a low-cost option in goal and an intriguing pick for fantasy managers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pavel Dorofeyev Breaks Slump With Two Goals
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored both of his team's goals in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Early in the game, Dorofeyev set a new franchise record with his fifth power-play goal in this year's playoffs. He also became the first Vegas player with four multi-goal games in a single postseason. These were his first points of the Finals. Dorofeyev started the postseason red-hot, but he found himself on a six-game point drought before Thursday's contest. The Golden Knights will be desperate for another big performance from Dorofeyev in Sunday's elimination game. Despite his slump, the Russian forward sits second on his squad with 12 goals in 21 playoff games and has collected 16 points.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shayne Gostisbehere Delivers Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere contributed two power-play assists on Thursday in a 4-2 Game 5 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Gostisbehere helped Andrei Svechnikov pick up a pair of goals, recording his second multi-assist game in the Finals. He has finished back-to-back games with power-play assists. After converting only 12.5 percent of power-play chances in the first three rounds, Carolina has improved to 37.5 percent in the Finals, with Gostisbehere playing a vital role in the increase. The veteran rearguard has amassed 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 18 games during the postseason run, including nine points with the man advantage.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Andrei Svechnikov Nets Two Power-Play Goals in Game 5 Win
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored two power-play goals in Thursday's 4-2 Game 5 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals. He netted a 2-1 go-ahead goal in the second period and extended Carolina's lead to three with another strike in the third. Svechnikov became only the second player in franchise history to record multiple power-play goals in a single playoff game, joining Eric Staal. The Russian forward has been big with the man advantage in the Finals -- all four of his points have come on the power play. Vegas has killed off only 62.5 percent of penalties against Carolina. Svechnikov and his squad will look to exploit that weakness again in Game 6 on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Special List With Another Three-Point Effort
Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers recorded a hat trick of assists as the team grabbed a 3-2 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday with a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. He became only the 12th player in NHL history to register back-to-back three-point games in the Finals. It was an eventful evening for Ehlers, who also received four penalty minutes for a pair of delay-of-game penalties. Throughout the Finals, Ehlers has been a driving force for the Hurricanes, posting three goals and five assists in five contests. He has averaged a point per game in the playoffs, contributing seven goals and 10 assists in 17 outings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
William Karlsson Likely Done for Finals
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (arm) is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Bill Price of NHL.com reports. The Swedish veteran sustained an apparent arm injury in Thursday's Game 5. "He's not going to be with us probably," Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella said postgame. "We've got to find a way to fill that void. Not just with one guy, but as a team." In the playoffs, Karlsson has been part of a productive second line, earning nine points (three goals, six assists) in 15 games. An early end to the playoffs will be frustrating for Karlsson, who was also limited to 14 regular-season games due to a lower-body injury.
Source: Bill Price
Source: Bill Price
Nikita Kucherov Wins Second Hart Trophy
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has captured the 2025-26 Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP. He narrowly beat out Edmonton's Connor McDavid in the voting, finishing 10 points ahead. Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon was third. Kucherov won his second Hart Trophy, having received his first seven years ago. He earned 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games. While McDavid had eight more points, Kucherov's play in 2026 was in a league of its own. He posted 79 points (26 goals, 53 assists) in 41 games since the calendar flipped, with no other player reaching even 70 points. Kucherov isn't getting any younger, but he remains a top-tier fantasy contributor and will go after a fifth consecutive 100-point year next season.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
William Karlsson Produces Multi-Point Performance in Game 4
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson was his squad's only player with multiple points on Tuesday night in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5-3 loss. Karlsson had both points in the second period, helping Vegas to tie the game at three. The Swedish veteran has been anonymous for most of the postseason, but he's averaging a point per game in the Finals. He has found himself centering two scoring machines, skating alongside Brett Howden and Mitch Marner. In total, Karlsson has posted nine points (three goals, six assists) in 14 playoff games since entering the lineup at the start of Round 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mark Stone Nets Seventh Career Finals Goal
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone scored his seventh career Finals goal in Tuesday's 5-3 Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Golden Knights captain scored 7:22 into the first period after Carolina had jumped to an early 2-0 lead. Only five active players have scored more goals in the Finals, with Brad Marchand (13) at the top of the pile. Stone has two goals in this year's edition. Since returning from a lower-body injury, Stone has found the back of the net four times in six games, adding one assist. Stone is playing well, which is good news for the Golden Knights, who are chasing the second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Logan Stankoven Pots Early Goal in Tuesday's Win
Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven got the scoring started in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, lighting the lamp just 1:06 into the first period and helping his team to a 5-3 win. This was Stankoven's fifth opening goal of the 2026 playoffs -- only three players in history have had more in a single postseason. While Stankoven went quiet midway through the playoffs, he has looked sharp again in recent weeks and will carry a three-game point streak into Game 5. The 23-year-old leads the Hurricanes in the playoffs with 11 goals and has 15 points in 18 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
