For the first time in the 2026 playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights face elimination. Vegas took a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, but the team has now lost two straight games and trails the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 going into Game 6 on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights won Game 1 and earned a double-overtime victory in Game 3, but Carolina won Games 2, 4, and 5 to take control of the series.

NHL Public Relations posted on X, writing, "They (Knights) are the 8th team since 2005-06 to face elimination for the first time in the Final."

Carolina’s 4-2 win on Thursday showed how much momentum has shifted. Since falling behind 4-0 before the third period of Game 3, the Hurricanes have outscored Vegas 13-6 and have been better in several key areas where the Golden Knights have struggled.

Special teams have become a big problem for the Vegas Golden Knights. Carolina’s power play struggled earlier in the playoffs, but it has been very effective in the Final, scoring on 6 of 16 chances.

Vegas has taken several costly penalties, including a cross-checking penalty by Brayden McNabb and a double-minor high-sticking penalty by Mark Stone in Game 5. Both penalties led to goals by Andrei Svechnikov.

Vegas has also struggled on defense. The team has given up important goals at key times, and its goaltending has faced criticism. The Golden Knights have allowed at least four goals in every game of the series. 

The situation could become even tougher for the Vegas Golden Knights if William Karlsson misses Game 6 after suffering a possible arm or shoulder injury in Game 5.

Still, history gives Vegas hope. Some teams have survived their first Stanley Cup Final elimination game, while others, like the 2025 Edmonton Oilers, were knocked out in Game 6.

Hurricanes Have Seized Momentum, But Vegas Golden Knights Believe Series Isn't Over

Even though the situation is difficult, the Vegas Golden Knights still believe they can win Game 6 and force a Game 7. Coach John Tortorella pointed to the experience of his team when talking about the challenge ahead.

"They know what's at stake here. We need to win one game. They'll be ready to play."

That confidence comes from a playoff run where the Vegas Golden Knights responded well to difficult situations. They won Games 5 and 6 against the Utah Mammoth in the first round and the Anaheim Ducks in the second round before sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

But Carolina has changed the series. Brandon Bussi has provided steady goaltending, and Andrei Svechnikov has become a key difference-maker. Vegas knows it must improve its discipline, defense, and special-teams play right away.

As McNabb put it after Game 5, "It's a matter of going home and winning one game."

Since 2006, only seven teams have had their first Stanley Cup Final elimination game. The Panthers, Penguins, and Oilers survived, while the other four teams were knocked out.

The Vegas Golden Knights have not faced elimination at any point in these playoffs until now. The big question is whether they still have their best response left.

What do you think? Can the Golden Knights handle the pressure and force a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes? Comment down below. 

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason