William Karlsson will miss Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes after getting injured in Game 5 on a check by Sean Walker. With Vegas trying to avoid elimination and the Hurricanes leading 3-2, coach John Tortorella confirmed Karlsso
When the Vegas Golden Knights need the next shift to swing the series, the lineup instead gets a sudden hole.
Vegas will be without forward William Karlsson for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final as the team tries to stave off elimination. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2 heading into Sunday, June 14 in Las Vegas.
Karlsson’s night ended early in Game 5 after he was injured on a check by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker. He left the game and did not return. with a trainer looking at his arm before the team headed to the dressing room. Golden Knights coach John Tortorella confirmed Karlsson’s absence for Game 6. but he did not discuss whether Karlsson would be available for Game 7 or who would replace him in the lineup.
Karlsson has been central to Vegas’s run to the Final. In the Stanley Cup Final, he has two goals and two assists. In the playoffs overall, he has nine points. He is also described as a two-way center who kills penalties and sees some power-play time.
Those responsibilities took on extra weight after Karlsson left Game 5. The Hurricanes scored two power-play goals following his exit.
Vegas forward Mitch Marner framed the loss as a professional setback the team will have to absorb in real time. “It’s obviously a big miss,” Marner told reporters. “He’s done a lot of great things for us since he’s been back in the lineup. but we’ve done this all year. We’ve had a lot of injuries throughout the year, throughout the playoffs. Obviously, it’s tough losing Will, but it’s next man up mentality.”.
The series now pivots on how quickly Vegas can adjust without a center who contributes in multiple phases of the game. With the Hurricanes carrying a 3-2 advantage into Game 6, Game 6 becomes more than a test of execution—it’s a test of depth under pressure.
Golden Knights William Karlsson Stanley Cup Final Game 6 Carolina Hurricanes Sean Walker John Tortorella Mitch Marner
So Karlsson is out… that’s gonna swing everything.
I swear these playoff injuries always happen right after the ref missed something. If Tortorella won’t say who replaces him then it’s probably bad. Hurricanes in 6 lol.
Wait it says “Karlsson’s night ended early” but also Sean Walker checked him… isn’t Walker the one who got suspended before? Or am I mixing teams up? Either way Vegas gonna feel that power play change for sure.
It’s funny how they say “next man up” like they don’t literally replace a guy who scores. Karlsson had like 2 goals and 2 assists right? And the Hurricanes scored on the power play right after he left… so yeah that’s not a coincidence.