What happened: ESPN unveiled the Stanley Cup Final matchup: the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina punched its ticket by closing out the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Vegas emerges from the Western Conference to complete the championship pairing.

Why it matters: The Final pits two franchises chasing Lord Stanley, with Carolina arriving on the strength of a deep playoff run and Vegas leaning on its postseason pedigree and goaltending. For either club, a title would cap a dominant run through the bracket and reshape the franchise's championship history.

What to watch: Watch for the league to confirm the series schedule and Game 1 site, along with each team's projected lines and starting goaltenders heading into the championship round.