The Carolina Hurricanes’ run to the 2026 Stanley Cup will get the full rink-side treatment this weekend when the 2026 Stanley Cup Championship Film premieres Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The one-hour NHL Productions feature revisits Carolina’s six-game Final victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and arrives just ahead of the club’s banner-raising opener.
Key takeaways
- ESPN2 will air the championship film at 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 27, with a second showing at 9 p.m. ET.
- Captain Jordan Staal, coach Rod Brind’Amour and 12 Hurricanes players are featured in the production.
- Carolina’s Final against Vegas included comeback victories, overtime drama and unexpected contributors.
- The film reaches Canada on Sportsnet on Sept. 28 and will also be available through the NHL’s YouTube channel internationally.
- The Hurricanes open their title defense Sept. 29 against the Florida Panthers after unveiling their championship banner.
Inside Carolina’s Cup run
The film follows the key stretches of the 2025-26 season that carried the Hurricanes from the regular season into a dominant playoff push, then through a demanding Stanley Cup Final against the Golden Knights.
Staal and Brind’Amour provide central voices in the retrospective, while Sebastian Aho, Brandon Bussi, Taylor Hall, Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin are among the players recounting the series. Their perspective is paired with game footage, including late rallies and overtime moments, as Carolina chased the franchise’s first championship in two decades.
Locker-room cameras also capture the aftermath of the clinching win, with the Hurricanes finally getting their hands on the Cup after a six-game battle with Vegas.
Where to watch and what comes next
After its ESPN2 debut, the championship film will be available in the United States on ESPN+ and Hulu. Canadian viewers can catch its Sportsnet debut Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a 10 p.m. ET replay on SN1. Fans outside the U.S. can watch through the NHL YouTube channel and the League’s international broadcast partners beginning Sept. 28.
Carolina will turn quickly from celebration to defense of its title. The Hurricanes host Florida on Sept. 29, with ESPN carrying the opening-night banner ceremony and game. That broadcast night also includes the New York Rangers at the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks against the Golden Knights.
