It's no secret that this cup finals matchup has been great for the growth of the game. Hockey is at its peak in South Florida, with ticket prices in the same range as the NBA finals, and the MLS' debut games with Lionel Messi.
In Vegas, the shows and extravagance are on full display, and the NHL is looking utterly fantastic to investors.
Unfortunately, the precedent of this is that fans feels that the Golden Knights have had the officiating advantage in this series, and NHL conspiracy theorists believe this comes from the top.
A cross-checking call on Radko Gudas last night was the straw that broke the camel's back for many fans:
Fans are clearly fet up with the inconsistency and the seemingly biased calls.
Is this tournament truly rigged?
As Read on Blade of Steel - Gary Bettman facing allegations of rigging Cup Finals after embarrassing penalty call on Gudas
| POLL | ||
JUIN 9 | 278 ANSWERS Gary Bettman Under Fire for Allegedly Fixing the Cup Final Do you think the cup finals are rigged? | ||
| Yes | 175 | 62.9 % |
| No | 103 | 37.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
APRIL 16, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Connor McDavid | - | 4 | 4 | |
| Matthew Savoie | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Robert Thomas | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Steven Stamkos | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Macklin Celebrini | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| William Eklund | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Evan Bouchard | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mikael Granlund | - | 3 | 3 | |
| John Klingberg | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Filip Forsberg | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Colton Dach | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Will Smith | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| John Carlson | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Luke Evangelista | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Dylan Holloway | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Ryan Ufko | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Zach Whitecloud | - | 2 | 2 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||