Hurricanes pay tribute to Kyle Busch before Canadiens game

The sports world is in mourning following the shocking news of the sudden passing of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes paid tribute to the legendary driver before the start of their Game 1 showdown in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the visiting Montreal Canadiens at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday.

A sweet tribute from the Carolina Hurricanes for Kyle Busch before Game 1 tonight. pic.twitter.com/xlQv2HdlEw

— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) May 22, 2026

Busch died at the age of 41 on Thursday. He was taken to a hospital earlier in the day due to a reported severe illness. Busch was supposed to race at the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

The Hurricanes’ gesture also drew a lot of reactions from fans online.

“I also thought it was a touching tribute,” a fan said.

“It’s cool when sports bring that personal touch. adds a nice layer to the game,” a social media user on X shared.

“Wow. Much respect!” another one commented.

“Classy. Good on you @nhl and @canes,” a different fan said.

“That’s so nice. I’m still in disbelief…,” another comment read.

Although the Hurricanes are currently making tremendous buzz in North Carolina with their deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, racing will always be a big part of the state’s sports scene. NASCAR is extremely popular in Carolina, so Busch is someone North and South Carolina sports fans are very familiar with.

Busch holds the record for most combined wins in NASCAR’s top three series with 234 victories to his name.

As for the game, the Hurricanes suffered a 6-2 loss to the Canadiens.

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