Sports
Carolina Hurricanes or Vegas Golden Knights? Key Factors That Will Decide Stanley Cup
May 29, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) shoots the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images The Stanley Cup Final matchup is set: The Beasts from the East will face the Pillow Fight (Pacific) Division champs.
In a matchup that follows absolutely dominant victories in the conference finals, the Carolina Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in a series that kicks off on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C.
Oddsmakers have the Hurricanes as favorites, and they do have home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series, but this could be a down-to-the-wire clash.
With that in mind, here are three reasons why both teams can come out on top.
Why Carolina will win:
• Team play. There are myriad reasons the Hurricanes have lost only once en route to the finals. So many come down to how well they are coached and how well they execute. Carolina may not boast the biggest stars, but they are collectively such a dominating club. In simplest terms, they out-shoot and out-chance their opponents because of their relentless play and ability to find and exploit opponents’ weaknesses.
• Defensively, they are the best team in the league right now, by a country mile. Through their 13 playoff games, the Hurricanes have surrendered only 21 goals, and one of them was with their net empty. And once clubs actually generate shots, goaltender Frederik Andersen has been amazing, having posted a 1.41 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. He allowed more than two goals in only one outing.
• Improved talent. Among the reasons Carolina petered out in past playoff runs was a lack of offensive touch. Basically, the top players were unable to put them over the hump and the supporting cast could not take the load. This club, however, has benefited from the development of young players Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake and additions such as Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman K’Andre Miller. As a result, there is not just one line to shut down.
Why Vegas will win:
May 26, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates scoring against Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) during the first period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images • Championship experience. This the third trip to the finals in only the franchise’s ninth season, and there are still players from the misfit club that made it this far in the 2017-18 inaugural campaign that shockingly lost out in the finals. There are 13 players still on the team from the Cup-winning squad of 2023. That experience goes a long way when the Stanley Cup is on the line.
• Better special teams. As much as these clubs have flexed their offensive skills, their defensive play is the foundation of their success. Do not expect too many high-scoring affairs, and that means power-play prowess can be the difference. Carolina has been outstanding on the penalty kill so far (a 92.5 percent kill rate), but Vegas is not far back at 87.5 per cent. The big difference is the power play. While Carolina has struggled with the man-advantage (12.5 percent: 7-for-56), Vegas has been consistently strong (23.9 percent: 11-for-46). The Golden Knights also have scored four short-handed goals, three by Brett Howden.
• Offensively, Vegas has more depth actually producing. When you think of the Golden Knights, the names that likely first come to mind are Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, and they are all delivering as expected. However, the leading goal scorers are Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, who both have 10 goals, more than anybody on the Hurricanes roster. Also, the Golden Knights have received more offensive contributions from their defense corps.
Sports
White Sox 1B Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) lands on IL
May 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the eight inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox placed rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained right hamstring.
The 26-year-old first baseman, who shares the American League lead with 20 homers, sustained the injury in Friday’s home win against the Detroit Tigers.
Murakami grabbed his hamstring after hustling down the first base line to beat out a double play in the third inning. He was removed from the game and walked gingerly to the dugout without assistance; pinch runner Luisangel Acuna replaced him. An MRI on Saturday confirmed the injury.
Murakami is batting .240 with 41 RBIs and leads the AL with 43 runs scored through 57 games in his first year in the majors. The Japanese star signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December.
In corresponding transactions, Chicago selected the contract of infielder Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte and transferred right-hander Jordan Leasure (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.
Gonzalez, who is celebrating his 24th birthday, was not in the starting lineup for Saturday’s matinee with the visiting Detroit Tigers. He is ranked as Chicago’s No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
A first-round pick (15th overall) by Chicago in 2023 out of Ole Miss, Gonzalez is slashing .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 52 games at Charlotte this season. He leads the minor leagues in RBIs and total bases (133) and is tied for the lead in homers through Friday.
Most of Gonzalez’s starts in the minors have been at shortstop, although he has started five games this season at first base and five at second base.
Gonzalez could become just the second player in White Sox history to make his major league debut on his birthday, joining left-hander Ken Patterson on July 8, 1988.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays reinstate RHP Cole Sulser (back) from 15-day IL
Apr 28, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Cole Sulser (71) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated Cole Sulser from the 15-day injured list on Saturday and optioned fellow right-hander Hunter Bigge to Triple-A Durham.
Sulser had been sidelined with a low back strain.
He is 1-0 with two saves and a 3.68 ERA in 18 appearances (one start) this season.
Sulser, 36, is 11-14 with 17 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 175 career appearances (three starts) with five teams.
Bigge, 27, is 1-1 with a 6.98 ERA in 18 relief appearances this season.
He has the same record with a 4.18 ERA in 50 career appearances (one start) with the Chicago Cubs and Rays.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Rockies' top prospect Ethan Holliday out for season
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ethan Holliday is drafted by the Colorado Rockies with the fourth pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Ethan Holliday, the top prospect of the Colorado Rockies, will undergo left foot surgery and be out for the season, MLB.com reported.
The 19-year-old shortstop, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, suffered a stress fracture and was put on the injured list by Single-A Fresno. He has not played since May 20.
It is unclear when and how the injury occurred, per the report. The Rockies have yet to announce the surgery.
Holliday, drafted out of Oklahoma’s Stillwater High School, signed with the Rockies for a $9 million bonus — the largest bonus ever for a high schooler. He started his pro career at Fresno after the draft and returned there this spring.
He will end this season with a .262 batting average with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 33 games. Before the injury, he was enjoying a solid May, hitting .295 with six homers, four doubles and a triple in 15 games.
MLB Pipeline lists him as the No. 17 overall prospect with an estimated arrival in the major leagues in 2029. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Holliday is expected to move to third base down the line.
His older brother, Jackson Holliday, was the No. 1 pick of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Also an infielder, Jackson recently made his season debut, after being sidelined with a fractured hamate bone sustained in batting practice prior to the start of spring training in February.
In 10 games in 2026, he is hitting .259 with two homers and five RBIs.
Their father, Matt Holliday, was a seven-time All-Star who played for four teams but is best known for his long stays with the Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals.
–Field Level Media
White Sox 1B Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) lands on IL
Rays reinstate RHP Cole Sulser (back) from 15-day IL
