Gustav Forsling's goal, just 4.3 seconds from the end of the overtime, beat Brandon Bussi and the Hurricanes, 1-0, in Carolina's opening game.  Brandon Bussi stopped 19 shots, but couldn't get Forsling's drive from just inside the blue line was the difference.  The Canes were 0 for 6 on the power play, though they did kill all seven of the Panthers' tries with the man advantage, so the special teams were a wash.  Prior to the game the Hurricanes raised their Stanley Cup championship banner to a rowsing ovation from the sellout crowd.

Brandon Bussi made 22 saves and six different Hurricanes players scored as the Canes whipped the Predators, 6-0, to close the preseason on a 3-game winning streak.  Jackson Blake, Jordan Martinook, Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski and Andrei Svechnikov each scored in the win.  The Canes went 3 out of 4 on the power play and shut Nashville down while shorthanded as the penalty kill was a perfect 5 for 5.  

Felix Unger-Sorum and Charles-Alexis Legault each made their cases for available roster spots and Bussi was outstanding as he gets ready for his opening night start on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes played their first game in Greensboro in 27 years and it did not disappoint as they rallied with 5 unanswered goals to beat the Predators, 6-5.

Logan Stankoven scored twice, including the goal that tied the game at 5-5.  Then, with 2.6 seconds remainins, Felix Unger-Sorum took a feed from Bradly Nadeau and wristed home the winner.  The second round pick in 2023, who also had the primary assist on Stankoven's game-tying goal, gets his second game-winning goal in two games as it was his shootout goal that finished off the Panthers on Tuesday night. 

Taylor Hall had 3 assists and Jackson Blake added a helper on the second Stankoven goal as that trio continues their assault on the scoresheet.  They combined for 54 points in the 19 playoff games en route to the Stanley Cup.  

Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a goal and an assist in the game, Juha Jaaska and Jusso Valimaki each added goals as well.  Only downer was Pyotr Kochetkov allowed 5 goals for the second straight game, though he did rally to play well in the 3rd period.  

Canes will likely dress their entire NHL lineup on Saturday in Nashville.

Bradly Nadeau and Justin Robidas each scored their second goals in as many games and Felix Unger Sorum netted the shootout winner as the Canes beat the Panthers, 3-2.  

Carolina once again rode the scoring of their prospects against Florida's full lineup as Nadeau's 2nd of the preseason tied the game at 1 in the first period.  Then, Robidas' 2nd of the exhibition season tied the game at 2 in the second period.  Nadeau would give the Hurricanes the lead in the shootout with a slick forehand-backhand move to beat Akira Schmid.  Then Cayden Primeau -- who came on for Brandon Bussi in the middle of the second period -- denied Carter Verhaeghe which set the stage for Unger Sorum's game deciding goal.

Bussi allowed 2 goals on 13 shots.  Primeau stopped all 20 he saw.  Mike Reilly led all defenseman in time on ice.  Nadeau's 25:10 TOI led all skaters on either team.

The Hurricanes lost, 6-3, in Florida.  But, the night was more about how than what.  And how some of the Canes young roster hopefuls played was a mixed bag.  It was a strong start for Pyotr Kochetkov, but a sideways second period didn't help his confidence.  It was his first game action in 9 months, so....We'll talk forwards, like Justin Robidas, Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum.  There are a couple of roster spots open on the blue line if Alexander Nikishin doesn't sign, so we get into that discussion as well.  

What should the Hurricanes do with Alexander Nikishin?  Give him a big, long-term contract or do a short-term -- bridge -- deal?  What kind of player is Nikishin?  Is he a catalyst, like Montreal's Lane Hutson or Ducks' young blueliner Jackson Lacombe?  I'm joined by Daily Faceoff host Jonny Lazarus to talk Nikishin, other Canes future questions and the real Metro contenders.  

The Canes are STILL the Stanley Cup Champions.  Joined by Ryan Henkel of Hockey news to discuss the parade, the landscape of the east and the potential of acquiring a top-flight goaltender.  

Canes Corner is presented by the Aluminum Company of North Carolina. aluminumcompany.com

Brandon Bussi made 22 saves, Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-0, to claim the Stanley Cup.  Jordan Staal was named the Conn Smythe Award winner as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs after a series in which he scored 6 goals, dominated the middle of the ice defensively and won 68% of his faceoffs.  Taylor Hall put the Canes on the board less than 4 minutes in with his 7th goal of the postseason and 2nd of the series.  Blake, who's defensive play created the chance for the Hall opener, doubled the lead in the 2nd period with his 7th of the playoffs as well.  The second year player ends up leading the Canes in playoff scoring with 20 points in 19 games.  Nikolaj Ehlers capped the night off with an empty net goal for the final margin.  Bussi ended up 3-1 with a  1.60 GAA and a.931 SV% in 4 appearances -- his first ever in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Rod Brind'Amour is the only man to ever captain a Stanley Cup winning team AND lead that same team to a Cup as the head coach.

The Canes are one win away from their second Stanley Cup after beating Vegas, 4-2.  Andrei Svechnikov scored twice on the power play, Sebastian Aho broke a 5-game goal drought and Jordan Staal scored for the 5th straight game as the big boys backed Brandon Bussi's 2nd win in as many games.  Carolina can close the series out on Sunday in Las Vegas in Game 6.  Bussi made 23 saves in the game as he became the first goaltender ever to make his first two career playoff starts in the Stanley Cup Final and win both.  Staal is the 5th player in history with goals in each of the first 5 games of a Stanley Cup Final series joining a group that includes three Montreal Canadiens legends -- Maurice Richard (1951), Jean Beliveau (1956) and Yvon Cournoyer (1973).  Nikolaj Ehlers had 3 assists and now has 17 points in the playoffs.  

The Canes beat the Golden Knights, 5-3, taking Game 4 and evening the Stanley Cup Final series at 2-2.  Jordan Staal scored twice -- and has now scored at least one goal in each of the four Stanley Cup Final games -- and Brandon Bussi made 18 saves in his first every Stanley Cup playoff start as they head back to Raleigh for Game 5 on Thursday.  Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake put the Canes ahead with two goals in the first 3 1/1 minutes.  Staal scored on the power play to make it 3-1 later in the opening period.  Then Staal's second broke a 3-3 tie in the 3rd.  Bussi, who started the 3rd period of the Canes' 5-4 double overtime loss on Saturday, has now stopped 36 of 40 shots in 5+ periods of work.