One more win: Canes stick with Bussi as they try to close out Stanley Cup Final in Game 6 :: WRAL.com

LAS VEGAS — The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from their first Stanley Cup in 20 years, one victory from holding the Cup in their hands and lifting it over their heads.

It’s a scenario they’ve been in many times – in their imagination.

“I’ve ran the thought of lifting that Cup over my head millions of times since I was a little kid,” forward Jordan Martinook said. “The fact that it’s this close just makes you want it that much more.”

Carolina leads the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final 3-2 and has won two straight entering Sunday’s Game 6 in Las Vegas.

Game 7, if necessary, is Wednesday in Raleigh.

“This is going to be the hardest one in my opinion,” said forward Jackson Blake, whose 18 points in the playoffs are tied with linemate Taylor Hall for the team lead.

Carolina is 3-0 in close-out games this postseason, eliminating Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal in its first opportunity. The Hurricanes are 15-3 in the postseason and won Game 4 of the Final in Vegas.

The Hurricanes have won two straight in the series and outscored Vegas 13-6 since the start of the third period in Game 3 when Brandon Bussi replaced Frederik Andersen in goal. Bussi has played every minute since, earning wins in Game 4 and Game 5. Bussi is the starting goaltender again in Game 6, and Andersen is a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” forward Sebastian Aho said. “We expect their best. We expect our best, too.”

Vegas coach John Tortorella vowed after the Game 5 loss that his team would force a Game 7 back in Raleigh.

“We’ll be back here,” he said.

Vegas will be without forward William Karlsson for Game 6. And the Golden Knights, seeing their second title in four seasons, made two other lineup changes. Forwards Reilly Smith and Bradeden Bowman are in the lineup for Karlsson and Keegan Kolesar, while defenseman Kaedan Korczak is in for Dylan Coghlan. Goalie Carter Hart is again in net for Vegas.

“You have a team that you’re playing that knows how to win and has done it,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We know they’re not going away.”

Brind’Amour was captain of the Hurricanes’ only other championship team in 2006. That squad led Edmonton 3-1 in the series, but lost Games 5 and 6 before winning Game 7 on home ice. Brind’Amour said he’s already brought that up to his team.

Brind’Amour and the Carolina players have said they are trying to keep things as normal as possible — even though they’ve dreamed of this moment for years. Captain Jordan Staal (2009 with Pittsburgh) and forward William Carrier (2023 with Vegas) are the only Hurricanes players who have won the Stanley Cup.

“Once the game starts just focusing on all the little things we’ve done to get here and executing it the best we can,” Staal said. “And find a way to get a win.”