RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes looks even in a lot of ways, with very little margin for error.
Vegas has won 12 of 16 games in the playoffs, including a sweep of Colorado in the West final, while Carolina has taken 12 of 13. They've allowed the third-fewest and fewest goals against, respectively, while each scoring more than three goals a game.
So, what will make the difference in a series between NHL powerhouses? Look no further than special teams.
The Hurricanes’ penalty kill is clicking along at a 92.5% success rate, allowing four goals and scoring once shorthanded.
“Carolina’s been an elite penalty-killing team for years now and that’s part of their identity and that comes from their puck pressure and their sticks, their discipline — all that kind of stuff,” goaltender-turned-NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider said. “Vegas will have its work cut out for itself.”
Vegas has been elite itself. The Golden Knights allowed six power-play goals through three rounds and scored four times short-handed.
Brayden McNabb, who has been around since the team's inaugural season in 2017-18, has been a key cog of that, logging more than 45 total minutes of ice time on the kill. Three other huge pieces are players general manager Kelly McCrimmon brought in midseason.
Goaltender Carter Hart, whose presence alone has been scrutinized, has stopped 64 of 70 shots while an opponent is on the power play. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, acquired before the Olympic break, and center Nic Dowd, an addition on the eve of the trade deadline, have along with McNabb been among the first guys over the boards on the penalty kill.
It has been old reliable for the Hurricanes, with defensive defenseman Jaccob Slavin skating over 56 minutes short-handed. Coach Rod Brind'Amour's team plays with a particular structure all the time, and this is where it is most effective as long as the three or four guys on the ice in front of goalie Frederik Andersen are on the same page.
Vegas' power play has scored 11 times in 46 opportunities, good for 24%. Captain Mark Stone and winger Pavel Dorofeyev have four apiece, while centers Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl each have six power-play assists.
“I find the Vegas power play to be more threatening,” Schneider said. “Can Carolina quiet Vegas’ power play and force them 5 on 5 in order to beat them?”
The better question is can Carolina's power play keep up? It is 7 of 56 in the playoffs, a 12.5% rate that has gotten the job done against Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal.
Vegas, as Brind'Amour said, is “a different animal.”
“Carolina’s got a good power play, don’t get me wrong, but I think that could be a bit of a wash and Carolina’s going to have to try to generate more 5-on-5 offense than rely on their power play like Vegas should,” Schneider said.
Given these teams' ability to put the puck in the net at even strength, there will be an emphasis on discipline. Stay out of the box and play 5 on 5, where the Golden Knights have scored 34 goals and the Hurricanes 30.
Vegas has averaged a little under four minor penalties a game to Carolina's five. That makes every power play even more valuable, with much of the games becoming a test of two teams with demanding coaches who don't let a lot of the details slip.
“They play the right way,” Slavin said. “They play a very similar style to us. It’s going to be who can do it better and who can stay on it longer? But it’s going to be an awesome series.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
FILE - Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) shoots against Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward, file)
FILE - Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) and goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) defend Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, file)
BERLIN (AP) — The memories of two successive World Cup group-stage exits weigh heavily on the Germany team before another attempt at restoring lost pride.
Surely it couldn’t happen again?
Germany, the four-time world champion, has been on a quest for redemption since its ignoble exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar marked a new low for the national team. Hansi Flick, the Germany coach at the time, held on for six more games before making way after three straight defeats.
Julian Nagelsmann took over in time for the 2024 European Championship and marked a new beginning with young, exciting players. Germany, the host, lost to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals, when Nagelsmann said there had been little between the teams and bullishly lamented having to wait two years before becoming world champion.
Nagelsmann has maintained that stance and repeated it again Thursday, even if his late decision to recall veteran goalkeeper Manual Neuer from two years of international retirement indicates a lack of conviction in Oliver Baumann, whom he’d previously indicated would be the No. 1 in goal after solid performances in qualifying.
Neuer is the only remaining member of the World Cup-winning team from 2014 in the Germany squad.
Nagelsmann acknowledged that Neuer’s return is “a blow” for Baumann, a team player who is unlikely to grumble in public about the decision. But the 40-year-old Neuer’s experience over 124 games for Germany could be a boon for the squad in what will be the goalkeeper’s fifth World Cup tournament.
“Everyone knows what kind of aura he possesses and the quality he brings to a team,” Nagelsmann said. “We don’t have a goalkeeper problem.”
Neuer is just over two years older than the 38-year-old Nagelsmann – who will be at his first World Cup.
His inclusion lifts the average age of the squad to 27.98 years, the oldest since the 2002 World Cup under Rudi Völler, Kicker magazine reported.
Neuer’s teammate at Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich, will captain the side.
The only concerns are Neuer’s recurring injuries. Neuer was to miss Bayern Munich’s German Cup final against Stuttgart because of a calf injury.
Germany’s problems at the last two World Cups started with opening defeats to Mexico and Japan in Russia and Qatar, respectively.
Tournament newcomer Curaçao is unlikely to spring a surprise when they meet for their Group E opener in Houston on June 14.
Germany next faces Ivory Coast and Ecuador, potentially more difficult rivals, but Germany should still have enough firepower to advance from the group – particularly because FIFA’s expanded version of the tournament means 32 of the 48 participating teams will reach the knockout stage.
Germany had few problems in World Cup qualifying but has struggled against other European heavyweights like France, Portugal and Spain, suggesting it still has some way to go before it can compete against its main rivals.
Defensive stability is Nagelsmann’s biggest worry as Germany conceded four goals in two friendly wins over Switzerland (4-3) and Ghana (2-1) in March.
Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck formed the central defensive partnerships for both games, with Kimmich – who plays in midfield for Bayern – at right back with David Raum or Nathaniel Brown on the left. Brown got the nod at left back for Germany's 4-0 warmup win over Finland on Sunday, when Tah and Schlotterbeck again formed the central defense.
Serge Gnabry’s absence through injury is a blow, but Germany has enough attacking talent in Bayern’s Jamal Musiala and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz for Nagelsmann to resist calls to bring Cologne teenager Said El Mala.
Bayern’s Lennart Karl, the youngest member of the squad at 18, is Nagelsmann’s wild card after recovering from a hamstring injury in time to feature.
This story has been corrected as an earlier version incorrectly reported Germany beat Ghana 1-0, rather than 2-1, in March.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann, announces the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a news conference at the German Football Association, DFB, headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann, announces the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a news conference at the German Football Association, DFB, headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
