Washington (United States) (AFP) – Rod Brind’Amour captained the Carolina Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup in 2006, and 20 years later, he has coached them to the edge of another National Hockey League title. The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the best-of-seven championship series starting Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Brind’Amour could become only the seventh person to win the Stanley Cup with the same team as a player and a coach — the first since Montreal’s Toe Blake in 1956. The ‘Canes have not missed the playoffs since he took over as their coach in the 2018-19 campaign, including a 12-1 run in this year’s post-season, but they have not reached the final since Brind’Amour’s title run 20 years ago.
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“It’s a different animal. That’s for sure,” Brind’Amour said of playing Vegas. “You can’t get this far without being top notch, so we know that’s going to be a huge challenge.” The Golden Knights, who beat Carolina twice in the regular season, have reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in their nine-season history, having lost to Washington in their 2017-18 inaugural campaign before beating Florida for the 2023 crown.
“They do a good job of keeping the puck to the outside and they’ve got some big defensemen, some very dangerous forwards up front, and a hot goaltender,” Carolina forward Logan Stankoven said. “It’s going to be a challenge. If we keep bringing the game we have right now, it puts us in a good spot. I’ve played against them. I know what to expect. It’s going to be a hard series.”
Vegas coach John Tortorella was a television commentator before being hired on March 29 to replace fired Bruce Cassidy, who guided the 2023 Golden Knights title run. Tortorella guided Tampa Bay to the Cup in 2004 but had not been to the final again until this year, a record 22-year gap for coaches between final appearances.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup,” Vegas captain Mark Stone said. “Happy with where we are. We still have four more wins that we want to accomplish.”
Carolina captain Jordan Staal won the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, and if he can lift it again, he would have the longest gap between Cups for any NHL player, his 17 years being one more than Chris Chelios, who won with Montreal in 1986 and Detroit in 2002.
Vegas star Mitch Marner spent nine seasons with Toronto and never advanced past the second round but has helped Vegas recapture top form. Marner rejected a trade deal to Carolina last season but agreed to a sign-and-trade deal to Vegas last July for $96 million over eight seasons. He scored 24 goals and set up 56 others in the regular season and leads the Stanley Cup playoffs with 21 points off seven goals and 14 assists as he prepares for his first Cup final.
“It’s something you dreamed of as a kid, so obviously really excited about it,” Marner said. “It’s a special moment. Guys just come to the rink excited every day to go to work. They want to make each other better, and we just have so much trust in whoever is going over the boards.”
© 2024 AFP
