The Stanley Cup Season: Unforgettable Moments

RALEIGH, N.C. - There were amazing goals, jaw-dropping saves, and then there were moments that we will never forget from the Carolina Hurricanes' championship-winning 2025-26 season.

Of course, the moment is the team lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time in 20 years, but there were others along the way that made us stop and say, "I can't believe that just happened."

Let's revisit, shall we?

January 29: The Comeback On Whalers Night

Just days before the Olympic break, the Canes welcomed the Utah Mammoth to Lenovo Center for the first time since the organization officially changed its branding from its original Utah Hockey Club moniker.

Trailing 4-2 with only 120 seconds on the clock, the outlook was bleak for Carolina.

Then, they became just the third team in NHL history to win in regulation after trailing by two goals in the final two minutes.

Striking twice with the extra attacker on, most teams would have been content to take the 4-4 score to overtime and move on with at least a point. Instead, the metaphorical foot remained wholly on the gas, and a tap-in from Jordan Staal inside the final 30 seconds propelled Carolina to a stunning come-from-behind victory.

April 18: "We're Not Backing Down From Anyone..."

Again, how the Stanley Cup Playoffs ended for the Canes is THE moment, but how they started was just as much of one.

The very first game of the postseason, on home ice, right at the opening puck drop, then-Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk challenged Jordan Staal to drop the gloves.

After the national messaging, which, to be fair, was recognized internally at times, that the Canes had been pushed around by the Florida Panthers twice in the previous three years in their losses during the Eastern Conference Finals, Matthew Tkachuk's younger brother tried to issue a reminder.

Could you blame him? There's merit to be seen from the other side.

Carolina's Captain dropped the mitts earlier this season in response to a dirty hit on teammate Jalen Chatfield, but before that, it had been eight years. Not known for being much of a fighter, many would think that Staal was going to have his hands full with a younger player looking to make a statement for his team.

This time around, though, there was no bullying Carolina. The challenger wound up on his back, sparking Lenovo Center's noise meter to its limits.

Imagine if that scrap had gone the other way and Ottawa stuns Rod Brind'Amour's group out of the gate? Does Game 1 go the way of the Metro Division winners? Does the series go their way?

As we know now, it was a four-game sweep for Carolina, in which Tkachuk was held completely off the scoresheet, and at the first intermission of the tussle, Staal put a stamp on his victory and gave a clear message on behalf of his team.

June 14: At Long Last...

When Rod Brind'Amour took over at the helm for the 2018-19 season and the team squeaked into the playoffs, the run began.

Each year was a step forward, from just getting in to becoming one of the powerhouses in the Eastern Conference, including a few Metropolitan Division titles and a flirtation with the Presidents' Trophy on several occasions.

But there was one clear goal in mind, and from 2019-2025, in those seven trips to the postseason, each iteration of the roster had come up short. It hurt more and more each season because the chance became realer and realer, moves were made to better those odds almost every time around, and Stanley Cup windows don't last forever.

Jake Guentzel was meant to be the guy who got the group over the hump. The front office had similar desires for Mikko Rantanen. There was always hope that Martin Necas could be a part of the solution.

After multiple heartbreaks in both the second round and the Eastern Conference Final, when the team finally got over the hump at the end of May, that in itself was jubilation.

Had that been the end of their run, it would've been another step forward, yet still a shortcoming. Try again next year, right?

Instead, the team killed two birds with one stone and took their ride the whole way.

From Jordan Staal's yell after receiving the trophy from Gary Bettman to Rod Brind'Amour's snatch-esque lift, toss, hold, or whatever you want to call it, the whole moment was magical.

Now, not only will 2046 be a 40th anniversary celebration for the 2006 team, it will also be the 20-year return for the 2026 group.

The Honorable Mentions...

• Jordan Staal Sparks Power Play Turnaround on Dec. 2 | READ
• “Logan’s Better!” on Jan. 6 | WATCH
• Angry Flyers on May 7 | WATCH
• Finally Getting Over The ECF Hump on May 29 | WATCH
• Nikolaj Ehlers Starts The Stanley Cup Final With A Goal on June 2 | WATCH
• 192,000 Caniacs Celebrating Together On June 20 | READ