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06/14 22:03 CDT Hurricanes use stifling defense to blank Golden Knights 3-0 in
Game 6 and win the Stanley Cup
Hurricanes use stifling defense to blank Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 and win
the Stanley Cup
By MARK ANDERSON
AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup
championship in 20 years on Sunday night, using a suffocating defense in Game 6
to shut down the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 and winning three straight games of a
thrilling final filled with momentum swings and spectacular offense.
Brandon Bussi, who entrance late into Game 3 helped turn around the series for
Carolina, recorded his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots.
Jackson Blake had a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the
game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal.
The Golden Knights, who made an unlikely run just to reach the final, struggled
badly to muster any kind of offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on
goal in the second and third periods. Playing in their third Cup final, this is
the first time they have been shut out.
This clinching game was what many observers expected the series to be like
between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus
goals disappear in the first three games.
Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind'Amour, who also
captained Carolina to its 2006 title.
This was the first game of the series that Vegas goalie Carter Hart didn't
allow four goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.
The Hurricanes began to assume control of the series after falling behind by
the score of 4-0 in Game 3. They came back force overtime, and though the Canes
lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from there on out.
Reflecting the do-or-die situation for the Golden Knights, they made several
lineup changes, with Brett Howden replacing the injured William Karlsson at
second-line center. Mitch Marner could have moved there, but remained at right
wing.
Original Golden Knight Reilly Smith made his Cup final debut at third-line
right wing and Braeden Bowman made his playoff debut at fourth-line right wing.
Kaedan Korczak replaced Dyland Coghlan on the third defensive pairing.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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