The 20-year wait is over. The Carolina Hurricanes are going back to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes left no doubt on Friday night, blitzing the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 to win the Eastern Conference Final in five games and advance to the championship series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

• Box Score

Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Eric Robinson scored in a dominating first period, then Jackson Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere added second-period goals that pushed the Hurricanes to a commanding lead over the Canadiens

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon as the final horn sounds.

The Canes are going to the Stanley Cup for the first time in 20 years. pic.twitter.com/GV23ZsNF4m

— Kate Rogerson (@KateRogersonTV) May 30, 2026

The Hurricanes swept through the first two rounds and have won the last three games in the series, the last being Wednesday's 4-0 road win that had them in complete control and staying on a smothering game. And Game 5 picked right up where that left off, with the Hurricanes taking a 15-4 edge in shots on goal while steadily pinning the Canadiens in their own end and attacking Jakub Dobes in net

Downtown Raleigh was packed as Canes fans came out to eat, drink and cheer the team on to a return appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

Hall struck first by finishing a feed from Logan Stankoven, who had crashed into Dobes on the left side. The Canadiens challenged the call for goaltender interference, but officials determined after a replay review that it should stand.

Loudest House in NHL
🤝
Loudest Fans in Smoky Hollow@Canes back to the Stanley Cup!@ABC11_WTVDpic.twitter.com/LqbSCC80jm

— Michael Perchick (@MichaelPerchick) May 30, 2026

Hall returned the favor by feeding Stankoven from behind the net for a score on the right side. And late in the period, William Carrier sent a high flip from deep in his own end to feed Robinson, who charged across the blue line to beat Mike Matheson to the puck and slip it underneath Dobes for the 3-0 lead that sent a buzzing home crowd into yet another roar.

Blake scored by skating in to clean up a loose rebound when Dobes stopped a breakaway for Hall, while Gostisbehere finished a power-play feed from Seth Jarvis near the crease for the 5-0 lead.

Seth Jarvis added an empty-net goal late in the third period for the final margin.

For the first time in 20 years— the Carolina Hurricanes are headed to the Stanley Cup Final‼️ pic.twitter.com/tcp7ZsayoI

— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) May 30, 2026

The Hurricanes entered this series having gone 1-12 in the Eastern Conference Final in their eight-year postseason run under coach Rod Brind'Amour, falling in sweeps to Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023 before losing in five games to the Panthers in last year's rematch.

But after regrouping from the Game 1 debacle, the Hurricanes took control of the series from the young and skilled Canadiens, who had arrived at this round ahead of schedule, to put themselves back in the Stanley Cup Final.

The last time the Hurricanes were in that round? Brind'Amour was the captain on a team that hoisted the Cup in a seven-game series against Edmonton in 2006.

Canes gather around the Prince of Wales Trophy…no one touches.

There’s a bigger one they want.#SoundTheSirenpic.twitter.com/8NfaEogumM

— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) May 30, 2026

The Hurricanes became the first team to reach the Stanley Cup Final with only one loss since 1983, according to SportRadar, and the only team to do so since the league went to best-of-seven series in all four postseason rounds in 1987.

The Stanley Cup Final begins Tuesday night in Raleigh. All games will air on ABC11.

- The Associated Press contributed.

SEE ALSO: Mebane Canes superfan's collection spans a lifetime

To shouts of "We've been waiting for this for 20 years!" and "Let's Go, Canes!" fans bask in the moment after Friday night's series-clinching win over Montreal.

One fan said it's been "amazing" to watch the Hurricanes this season.

The Carolina Hurricanes Foundation has given back to the community during the playoff run. "We are excited that we could offer these grants."

Retired NHL legend Claude Lemieux was also Freddie Andersen's agent.

The Carolina Hurricanes' mascot isn't shying away from the spotlight ahead of Game 5 on Friday night.

Outlandish outfits and props are part of the fun as the Caniacs enjoy a memorable playoff run.

SEE ALSO: Hurricanes and Canadiens playoff run sparks friendly rivalry between couple, their Raleigh bar

Download the ABC11 News app

Stepping inside Jacob Emmons' home is like walking into a museum dedicated to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The collection traces both the team's milestones and Emmons' own life, from his earliest memories of the franchise to his hopes of seeing another Stanley Cup victory.

"My very first memory when I was 3 years old in 2006 ... My grandparents, me with my little mini stick, hitting it around. And then I went to the parade afterwards," Emmons said.

You could say Emmons was raised as a Caniac. His interest in hockey began early and quickly grew.

"You know, when Jacob was even very young, I would catch him reading the NHL rulebook. And, he chose the Hockey Hall of Fame over Disney World when he was 8 years old," his mother said.

Over time, his childhood bedroom filled with Hurricanes memorabilia. Jerseys, goal-scoring pucks, and playoff banners accumulated as he attended practices, met players and added item after item to his collection.

"And then Jacob Slavin became my favorite player. So he was my main collector's item with a lot of his stuff and jerseys," Emmons said.

My life goal is to be there when we raise the Stanley Cup. So if I make it that far and have a chance to win it, I'll definitely be there.

His collection now includes rare and unusual items, many tied to specific players and moments in team history.

"And just anything Slavin. Hopefully one day, I'll get everything game-worn and used possible from him. Then I also have Jordan Staal's game-used pants from the Stadium Series that I got at the yearly yard sale one year. So that was probably my most strangest, but awesomest, thing that I have," he said.

Hockey fandom runs in Emmons' family. His uncle introduced his mother to the sport, and when the Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina to become the Hurricanes, they embraced the team together.

ALSO SEE |Fans in a frenzy as Canes return home with chance to clinch Stanley Cup Final berth

"We did. We had season tickets. And it's absolutely some of the most special memories that Jacob and I have together is going to those playoff games," his mother said.

As the years passed, life brought changes. The family eventually gave up season tickets as Emmons went to college. The room once known as the "Canes Cave" has since been converted into a home gym by his parents, now empty nesters.

ALSO SEE |Hurricanes and Canadiens playoff run sparks friendly rivalry between couple, their Raleigh bar

Emmons, who got married last year, plans to bring his collection with him to his new home. His wife has come to appreciate his passion for the sport.

"Yeah. Yeah. She'd never watched a hockey game in her life before she met me, but I think she's a big fan now, and so she understands," he said.

Emmons continues to expand his collection, dedicating both time and money to finding new additions.

"Ask for eBay gift cards and, yeah, search Carolina Hurricanes, newly listed, at least like five or 10 times a day when I'm bored," Emmons said.

For his family, the Hurricanes represent more than a team -- they are a source of connection and joy.

"And just to see something, you know, I think right now we all just need something to be happy about. And this is joyful, and it's so much fun and very excited, for what's coming up," his mother said.

Emmons hopes his lifelong devotion will one day come full circle, mirroring his first memory as a 3-year-old at a championship parade.

"Yeah, my life goal is to be there when we raise the Stanley Cup. So if I make it that far and have a chance to win it, I'll definitely be there," he said.

In Mebane, his collection stands as both a tribute to the Hurricanes and a record of a fan's enduring passion.

Download the ABC11 News app