The Stanley Cup Final is upon us, with the Carolina Hurricanes facing off against the Vegas Golden Knights. But there's a catch: neither team has touched their respective conference championship trophies, a superstition that could be their downfall. The Prince of Wales Trophy for the Eastern Conference and the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl for the Western Conference are seen as mere stepping stones to the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. While there are exceptions to this rule, the Golden Knights and Hurricanes have an intriguing pattern. Vegas, led by Captain Mark Stone, avoided touching the Clarence Campbell Bowl in 2023, mirroring their approach in their inaugural season when they won the Stanley Cup. However, in 2018, de facto captain Deryk Engelland broke the mold by touching and skating with the trophy. This presents a 1-1 record for Vegas in the Cup Finals, with a loss when they touched the trophy and a win when they didn't. Carolina, on the other hand, has a history of avoiding the Prince of Wales Trophy. In 2002, they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs without touching the trophy, but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in 2006, a team with one of the best rosters in NHL history. In 2006, after winning Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres, then-captain Rod Brind'Amour did not touch the trophy, and the Canes went on to win the Stanley Cup. This superstition could be a deciding factor in the upcoming game, as one team must break free from this trend. The stage is set for an intriguing showdown, with the outcome hanging in the balance. The question remains: will the Hurricanes or Golden Knights be the ones to defy the superstition and claim the Stanley Cup?
