Win or lose, fans of the Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are enjoying a Stanley Cup Final that is one for the ages.
The Canes tied the series at 2-2 on Tuesday, beating the Knights in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena 5-3. The game was a one-score affair until the Canes scored an empty netter with less than a minute to go, when the Knights pulled goalie Carter Hart to have a man advantage to try and tie the game.
Each game has seen one team get a multi-score lead, only to lose it, with Game 2 going to overtime and Game 3 hitting double overtime.
David Hardy and his wife, Victoria, who are Day 1 Knights season-ticket holders, despite living in Nevada City, California, said the series has been exhilarating, but exhausting at the same time.
“We’re used to it,” David Hardy said. “That game the other day was unbelievable. Obviously great because we won it. But we’re used to it. I mean, this is Vegas hockey now, where we’re used to the way they play. It’s a little nerve-wracking. I was spent, a lot of the fans seem spent after that game, but now we’re feeling like no problem. Tie series, no problem. This team is resilient.”
The Hardys plan to stick around Las Vegas to catch Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena, as they booked a hotel room at New York-New York through next week, in anticipation of the series running long.
Frank Ferraro, a Canes fan from Wake Forest, North Carolina, whose son works for the Knights, flew in for Game 4 and was one of many opposing fans in the stands on Tuesday. With the series being ultra-competitive, Ferraro has enjoyed every minute of the cup final.
“I think both teams are really, really talented,” Ferraro said. “I think Vegas to be able to sweep Colorado is really crazy. I think our team, my team, the Hurricanes, got some good young roadrunner kind of guys that you can always hopefully count on. And it’s anybody’s game at any time. It’s probably some of the best hockey I’ve ever seen.”
Hearing some of the Canes faithful get loud at times with various chants throughout the game, before being drowned out by Knights fans, made Ferraro proud.
“Yeah, absolutely (was good to hear).” Ferraro said. “And in the same token, when I’m in Raleigh and I’m in my seat, you get the same thing. You get some Vegas fans or Colorado fans or whoever. Everyone travels, so it’s all good.”
Fans of opposing teams having playful banter is part of the sport and keeps it fun, Ferraro said.
The banter is all fun and games until someone takes it too far, as Knights fan William Palmer experienced Tuesday.
“You’ve got to let the other fans have their minute, you know,” said Palmer, who is originally form Las Vegas but now resided in St. George, Utah. “I’m sure that we go to their arena and do the same thing. It is a little annoying when they’re overly clapping and just need to sit down. They got their goal. But I would probably do the same thing if I were at their place. So I can’t really pick on it too much.”
Palmer said he bought a ticket to Sunday’s Game 6 even before attending Tuesday’s game, as he had a feeling the series would make its way back to Las Vegas. Palmer plans to travel back to St. George for the week, but will be back at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, with hopes of cheering on the Knights to a Stanley Cup Final win, pending Game 5’s outcome.
“I bought them before (today), speculating,” Palmer said. “I’ve now got tickets for Sunday, and I’m hoping that they win in Carolina and come back and we’re having a Cup game on Sunday.”
The Hardys are also wishing to be rooting on the Knights to win on Sunday, but if the series goes to seven games, they plan to travel back to California and watch the series-deciding game from the comfort of their home.
“We’re just going to chill, go back home, watch it in the comfort of the Gold Country and disturb our neighbors,” David Hardy said. “We have the goal horn out front. So yeah, we’re going to do that.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
