The Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are getting ready for Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. The Hurricanes have home-ice advantage, but that does not scare Vegas head coach John Tortorella at all.
”I don’t care,” Tortorella told reporters.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final begins Tuesday in Raleigh. The Vegas Golden Knights have gone 12-4 in the playoffs leading up to the Final. The Hurricanes have gone 12-1 on their way to the championship series, making them slight favorites.
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Carolinas first Final in 20 years
The Carolina Hurricanes have not appeared in a Stanley Cup Final since 2006, when they won their first and only Stanley Cup. For the Golden Knights, this Final will be their third in nine years of existence. The fact that the Hurricanes have home-ice advantage does not intimidate Vegas.
John Tortorella takes jab
Speaking to reporters on Monday, head coach John Tortorella took a jab at the Hurricanes and their home ice.
“I don’t care what building we play in. This isn’t way back in the day when there were situations and buildings that there might have been a little bit of intimidation or whatever. It’s just not that way in our game anymore,” Tortorella told reporters.
Fans online completely disagreed with Tortorella, calling him out for his comments.
“He realizes that Carolina has won six of its seven home playoff games, right?” one fan wrote on X.
“Until you come to Carolina,” another wrote.
On Tuesday night, we’ll see who’s right.
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