Vegas Is One Loss Away From Losing The Cup and Tortorella Is STILL Sticking With Carter Hart

Holy smokes, can you believe what’s happening in the Stanley Cup Final right now? The Vegas Golden Knights are staring down elimination, trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2, and they’re heading into a do-or-die Game 6 on Sunday night, back in their own barn at T-Mobile Arena. The stakes couldn't be higher, and John Tortorella, the Vegas coach, made a call that has everyone scratching their heads: he’s sticking with goalie Carter Hart, despite a performance that’s been, well, let's just say less than ideal in this series.

The Hurricanes Are Absolutely Rolling, And Vegas Is Bleeding

Carolina is on an absolute tear, refusing to lose back-to-back games since January, and they’re trying to close out the series with three straight wins. They took Game 4 with a 5-3 victory in Vegas and then snatched Game 5 with a 4-2 win in Raleigh. Jordan Stall, their center, has been a beast, scoring a goal in all five games, tying a Stanley Cup Final record! And left wing Nikolaj Ehlers has back-to-back three-point games. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, who captained them to a Cup win in 2006, isn’t pulling any punches, saying, "We've got to put our best foot forward. That's really the message." Their defenseman Sean Walker even admitted, "It's pretty crazy, but it's one win away." To make things even tougher for Vegas, they might be without original "Golden Misfit" William Karlsson, a crucial center, penalty killer, and faceoff man who suffered an apparent arm or wrist injury after a hit by Walker in Game 5. Tortorella wouldn't confirm, but it sounds like Karlsson's season might be over either way. Forward Mitch Marner called it a "tough hole to fill," saying it’s a "next-man up mentality" and everyone needs to step up defensively.

The Goalie Situation: A Risky Bet for the Golden Knights

Alright, let’s talk goalies, because this is where it gets WILD. Carolina swapped veteran Frederik Andersen for Brandon Bussi, a waiver pickup from Florida, in Game 3. Bussi is expected to stay in net for Game 6, though Brind’Amour kept it vague, saying "everyone is available." But on the Vegas side, it's a completely different story. Tortorella confirmed he's sticking with Carter Hart. Hart has an 0.856 save percentage and a 3.70 goals-against average in these finals! He's the first goalie in Stanley Cup Final history to allow at least four goals in the first five games. Vegas has Adin Hill, a key part of their 2023 Cup run with an 11-4 record, two shutouts, a 2.17 GAA, and a 0.932 save percentage in that postseason! Tortorella is holding firm, saying, "I know there's a better game in him. I've seen it throughout the playoffs. I think he's a very good goalie." Hart himself admitted, "I haven't been the best in this series, and I'll be better the next game." It's a lot of faith when the Cup is on the line.

The Golden Knights are heading into their third elimination game in a Cup Final, with a 1-1 record in previous ones, winning in 2023 and losing in 2018. Can Hart turn it around? Can Marner, leading all NHL players with 29 postseason points, and Howden, tops with 14 goals, carry the offense? Or will Carolina be too much to handle and hoist the Cup on Sunday night? This is it, folks. Game 6, winner takes all, or at least forces a Game 7 in Raleigh. You know we'll be glued to every second!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.