Brind’Amour was the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup championship team and has been Carolina’s coach since 2018-19. He’s the seventh person in NHL history to win the Cup with the same franchise as a player and a coach, and fourth to do it as captain and coach.
“It’s just as awesome, but as a player it was a little different because I worked and dreamt of winning the Cup my whole life so that was like a piano came off my back,” Brind’Amour said. “This time around I wanted, it was for the group. I wanted them to feel what it’s like.”
Carter Hart made 20 saves, but the Golden Knights lost their third straight game to end the season. Carolina outscored them 12-5 in Games 4-6.
“We put some good minutes in too and we couldn’t find our way — they did,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “As I’ve always said, it’s a find a way league. All the games were close. It’s just trying to find a way. They did tonight and they beat us.”
Hall put the Hurricanes ahead 1-0 at 3:47 of the first period, scoring with a far-side shot from the left face-off circle that he got off before Noah Hanifin could close on him. The shot went under Hart’s left arm and over his left pad.
Blake forced a turnover by Brett Howden at the Carolina blue line. The puck went to Jaccob Slavin, who looked up and saw Hall behind the Vegas defense. The stretch pass connected and Hall did the rest.
“I mean, you need to get that one,” Hall said. “Theoretically, it might even be easier to come from behind in a Stanley Cup clinching game, but I was so happy. I couldn’t even do a celebration I was so happy.”
