Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview: Game 6 vs. Hurricanes – The Hockey Writers – Vegas Golden Knights

Welcome to another Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview! Well, for the first time this postseason, the Golden Knights are facing elimination. They are playing their last home game of the 2025-26 season, but they hope to give their loyal fans one more game to watch, even if just on TV. The Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Stanley Cup will be in the building, but can the Golden Knights send it back on a plane for a Game 7?

Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview: Game 6 vs. Hurricanes (Hurricanes Lead 3-2)

The Golden Knights lost Game 5, 4-2. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his first two goals of the series for Vegas, but Andrei Svechnikov scored two goals of his own, both on the power play. Carter Hart gave up four goals again, being outplayed by Brandon Bussi, who made 23 saves for Carolina.

• Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone
• Brett Howden – Brandon Saad – Mitch Marner
• Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons – Pavel Dorofeyev
• Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
• Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
• Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
• Jeremy Lauzon – Dylan Coghlan
• Carter Hart/Adin Hill

William Karlsson will miss Game 6 and possibly the remainder of the series. Karlsson left Game 5 in the second period after taking a hit from Sean Walker. Karlsson hit his left arm on the glass. Head coach John Tortorella did not offer much of an update, other than Karlsson would not play in Game 6. We are assuming Saad will enter the lineup in Karlsson’s place, but check back with the link above for an official lineup as we get closer to the game.

It is just the latest injury for Karlsson. He only played 14 games in the regular season. He did not return to the lineup until Game 1 of Round 2. Brayden McNabb noted Karlsson’s determination and acknowledged how much better the team is when he is in the lineup:

“It’s tough, he’s done a great job coming back. He’s an awesome player, a big leader in the room. He’s a Day 1 guy. Been around a long time, he’s a 200-foot player. You definitely miss him when he’s not in there. So hopefully he can play, but if not, we’ll be ready.”

Team Leaders

Mitch Marner leads the Golden Knights in points (29) and plus/minus rating (plus-14). Brett Howden leads the Golden Knights in goals with 14. Jack Eichel leads with 20 assists. Lastly, Cole Smith leads with 24 penalty minutes.

Hart remains the only goaltender to see action in the postseason for Vegas. In 21 games, he has recorded 14 wins, while posting a 2.59 goals-against average (GAA), alongside a .909 save percentage (SV%).

Storyline #1- Elimination History

History is not on the Golden Knights’ side when they are facing elimination. In their previous eight seasons, the Golden Knights are 3-6 when facing elimination. Furthermore, only one of their three wins was a non-Game 7 elimination game. When the Golden Knights need to extend a series, they have historically struggled.

The good news? Their one non-Game 7 elimination win was at home in a Game 6 in 2024. That is the situation facing the team on Sunday night. Might as well focus on the positives, right?

Storyline #2- Lineup Shuffle

Staving off elimination is hard enough, but without Karlsson, it will be even harder. For the Golden Knights, someone needs to step up in his absence. Whether that is whoever replaces him in the lineup or someone else in the lineup, someone needs to step up in a big way.

Tortorella will need someone to play center on the second line. Howden could move over to that spot, and then Dorofeyev can move up from the third line. Putting Dorofeyev and Marner, two of the best offensive players in the league this postseason, could be a good idea with the team’s back against the wall.

Storyline #3- A Hill to Die On

Tortorella was asked after Game 5 if he had considered putting Adin Hill into the game to replace Hart. The always blunt head coach offered his take on the question:

Hart has played well for the Golden Knights in the playoffs, but he is struggling in the Final, allowing at least four goals per game. The Golden Knights have scored at least three goals in all but one game. The offense has done enough to win games, but Hart’s struggles are noticeable.

Hill’s Final resume is small. He played in all five games of the Final in 2023, posting a 1.96 GAA and a .939 SV%. He also recorded a shutout, helping the team defeat the Florida Panthers.

Yes, it is a small sample size, but Hill did very well against a strong Panthers offense. Going up against an equally dangerous Hurricanes offense, it may not be a bad idea to turn to Hill with their season on the line.

There is no easy answer to this question. Whoever Tortorella turns to in Game 6, if it does not work out, will be questioned.

How to Watch

Game 6 starts at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time. It can be viewed on ABC.

Check back in with The Hockey Writers for more Cup coverage. Are we going back to Carolina for a Game 7, or is a new champion crowned in Vegas?