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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights – How to Watch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals

By DIRECTV Insider Staff
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights – How to Watch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals

The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Carolina Hurricanes for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Here’s how to watch live on TV.

  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Location: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
  • TV Channels: ABC
  • Streaming: ESPN

How to Watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes on June 2, 2026

You can watch the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights live with DIRECTV on ABC and streaming on ESPN on June 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.

Vegas Golden Knights at Carolina Hurricanes — Game 1 Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center, with two teams arriving from very different paths through the bracket. After a late-season coaching change, Vegas overcame the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks to advance to the Western Conference Final, where they swept the league-best Colorado Avalanche to punch their ticket to the Final. Carolina went undefeated through the first two rounds in the East, sweeping the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers before trouncing the Montreal Canadiens in the East Final. The Hurricanes have lost just one game throughout the playoffs so far.

Carolina has been ruthless on the defensive end at 1.62 goals against per game, while Vegas has worked the other side of the ice with a 23.9 percent power play and 3.63 goals for per game.

The Hurricanes’ Hall-Stankoven-Blake line has been a major factor in their success: Taylor Hall has been the team’s top point producer with five goals and 11 assists across the run, and Logan Stankoven has been their most prolific goalscorer of the postseason, lighting the lamp nine times so far. In net, Frederik Andersen has been downright elite for Carolina, now sitting at 12-1 with a 1.41 GAA and three shutouts

In Vegas, much of the story so far has centered around two of the Golden Knights major offseason acquisitions: Mitch Marner, who came over from Toronto, and goaltender Carter Hart, who has been back in an NHL net for the first time since the 2024 season. Marner anchors the Vegas attack with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 playoff points, while Hart has gone 12-4 with a .924 save percentage for Vegas.

This is Game 1 of the series.

National TV

ABC

National TV

ESPN Unlimited

What Time is the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game Today?

The Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes game starts at 8:00 PM ET.

Where Can I Watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes?

You can watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes on ABC and stream the games on ESPN Unlimited.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes — 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Schedule

Game Date Time (ET) Venue TV Result
Game 1 June 2, 2026 8:00 PM ET Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC ABC
Game 2 June 4, 2026 8:00 PM ET Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC ABC
Game 3 June 6, 2026 8:00 PM ET T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV ABC
Game 4 June 9, 2026 8:00 PM ET T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV ABC
Game 5 (if necessary) June 11, 2026 8:00 PM ET Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC ABC
Game 6 (if necessary) June 14, 2026 8:00 PM ET T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV ABC
Game 7 (if necessary) June 17, 2026 8:00 PM ET Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC ABC

Players to Watch: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Vegas Golden Knights

Mitch Marner — RW. Marner leads Vegas in playoff scoring with 21 points, having added 7 goals and 14 assists across the team’s run to the Final. His +12 across three rounds is the strongest plus-minus among Vegas forwards in the postseason.

Jack Eichel — C. Few playmakers in the postseason have outperformed Eichel’s 16 assists for Vegas, a number that has paired with 2 goals to push him to 18 points. He sits at +7 across the run, with the assists doing most of the work in his point total.

Shea Theodore — D. From the back end, Theodore has produced 11 playoff points on 4 goals and 7 assists for Vegas. His +8 fits a Vegas team that has allowed 2.38 goals against per game in the postseason, the higher of the two Final-round numbers.

Carter Hart — G. Carter Hart has gone 12-4 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.22 GAA in net for Vegas this postseason. His save percentage gives Vegas a measured presence in net, against an Andersen who sits at .931 and will set the tone of the series.

Carolina Hurricanes

Taylor Hall — LW. Hall has led the Hurricanes in playoff scoring with 16 points, putting up 5 goals and 11 assists through three rounds. His +11 across the run is a top mark among Carolina forwards in the postseason.

Logan Stankoven — C. Nine playoff goals, more than any other Carolina skater, have come from Logan Stankoven, who has added 3 assists for 12 points. His +8 across the run and the depth he provides have helped push Carolina to a 12-1 record entering the Final.

K’Andre Miller — D. Carolina’s defensive numbers reflect the work of K’Andre Miller, whose +14 plus-minus leads the team and pairs with 8 assists across the playoff run. Eight assists and no goals to date fit a defensive-zone role that has held up across the playoff run.

Frederik Andersen — G. Andersen has been the dominant figure of the Hurricanes’ postseason at 12-1 with a 1.41 GAA and a .931 save percentage. His 3 shutouts have come across the run, and the 1.41 GAA gives Carolina the more secure spot in net heading into Game 1.

What is the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes Series Record?

This is Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, so neither team has a series win yet. Carolina earned home-ice advantage with a 53-22-7 regular-season record and brings a 12-1 postseason mark into the Final, while Vegas enters at 12-4.

Injury Report: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Vegas Golden Knights

Jeremy Lauzon (D) — Out, upper body

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes enter the Final without any active-roster absences.

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