Celebrities, sports stars cheer on teams during Stanley Cup playoffs

The puck has dropped on the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds are taking in all the action. Check out what famous faces have been spotted in the stands.

Stanley Cup Final

June 11 

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland took a break from his FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations with Norway to enjoy Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center.

Haaland and his Norwegian teammates waved their rally towels in the air when they were shown on the arena video board. Hurricanes fans gave them a loud ovation.

The Norwegian men's soccer team is currently practicing at UNC Greensboro, a little over an hour drive from Raleigh. 

June 9

T-Pain likes the Vegas Golden Knights, so if you are looking for him you can find him at the Stanley Cup Final.

The singer cranked up the energy before Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena. First, he held a pregame concert before the game outside for fans.

After, T-Pain sounded the siren before puck drop.

June 6

Music stars were out at T-Mobile Arena to cheer on the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3.

Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter had a larger than life experience at the game in his Golden Knights jersey.

Singer G Flip was mic'd up along the glass during the game.

June 4

"One Tree Hill" stars James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti don't want to be anything other than Caniacs.

The actors went back to their old stomping grounds to cheer on the Carolina Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knight in Game 2 at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes posted a video of the duo, who now star in a new series called "Everyone Is Doing Great" together, checking in from the game.

Both actors lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, where "One Tree Hill" was filmed from 2003-2012.

The two were mic'd up along the glass for the overtime thriller.

June 2

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final began at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Tuesday. Former NFL coach and current UNC head coach, Bill Belichick, watched Game 1 between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights alongside NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Eastern and Western Conference Finals

May 29

Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly got the party started in Raleigh before Game 5 at Lenonvo Center. The former Carolina Panthers star sounded the siren before puck drop between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.

Kuechly's former teammate, Jonathan Stewart, was also in attendance and crashed a couple Hurricanes fans' pregame tailgates.

May 26 

CM Punk took in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena.

The wrestling superstar and noted Chicago Blackhawks fan sat right on the glass with friend and business partner Lou Dangeli, clearly a Golden Knights backer.

The topic of conversation shifted between which team was the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, how you can now eat sushi at NHL games and how a person really only needs one good quality pair of pants.

Punk, clad in a Sudbury Bulldogs hoodie (a reference from the Hulu hit hockey-themed comedy "Shoresy") reluctantly applauded the Golden Knights closing out the Colorado Avalanche despite wanting to see the team play a full seven-game series. 

We hear you Punk, we hear you.

Rapper and Las Vegas resident, Flavor Flav, pulled up to Game 4 with his son, Karma. The father and son rocked Golden Knights jerseys as they sat along the T-Mobile Arena glass.

May 25

The 2026 Walter Cup champions, Montreal Victoire, were in attendance for Game 3 between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre. 

Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin led fans in a "Go Habs Go!" chant.

May 24

Why would you do that... unless you were a big Vegas Golden Knights fan.

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco rang the siren before Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Maniscalco holds a residency at the Wynn Las Vegas, performing his unique brand of comedy on the strip. The 52-year-old funnyman has more than just a few smash hit specials, including his latest show "It Ain't Right" streaming on Hulu.

May 20

"Fourth Wing" author Rebecca Yarros cheered on the Colorado Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights during Game 1 at Ball Arena.

The Denver Broncos were also in attendance and hyped up the crowd.

Eastern Conference Second Round

May 8

It was a popping Friday night at KeyBank Center for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. Retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski cheered on the Buffalo Sabres against the Montreal Canadiens. In an interview with TNT, Gronkowski spoke about his love for his hometown hockey team.

Goo Goo Dolls lead singer and Buffalo native Johnny Rzeznik was also in attendance for Game 2.

May 7

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and defensive end Cooper DeJean performed the "ignite the orange" duties before Game 3 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

May 6

"Prison Break" actor and Buffalo native, Bill Fichtner, banged the pregame drum before Game 1 between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center.

Western Conference Second Round

May 15

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh hit up Game 6 at Honda Center with his son decked out in a home orange Anaheim Ducks jersey.

May 12

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins enjoyed a night out in his new city on Tuesday. Cousins cranked the siren before Game 5 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena.

May 9

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle John Randle kicked things off before Game 3 between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche at Grand Casino Arena on Saturday. The seven-time Pro Bowler fired Wild fans up by asking them, "Are you ready?" before saying, "Let's play hockey!"

Eastern Conference First Round

April 29

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden brought the thunder to Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday. Gruden rocked a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey as he lit the tesla coils before Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and his teammates were also in attendance for Game 5.

Up north at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of a rain out and went across the street to cheer on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said the team jumped at the chance to attend the game and called the atmosphere "awesome."

April 25

On Saturday, it was two-time Super Bowl champion and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham's turn to "ignite the orange" and hype up Philadelphia Flyers fans before Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

April 22

In the city of Brotherly Love, comedian Shane Gillis "ignited the orange" alongside Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty before Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Cooper DeJean checked in live from his seats.

April 21

Up in Buffalo, “One Tree Hill” actor Chad Michael Murray lived it up as he sported a “Goathead” hat to go along with his jacket featuring the team’s alternate uniform colors. He showed off his souvenir “Sabre” as he rooted for the Buffalo Sabres against the Boston Bruins in Game 2 on Tuesday.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen fired up the crowd earlier by banging the pregame drum before puck drop.

Allen's teammates, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, were mic'd up for Game 2.

Down in Florida, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin Jr. and Tez Johnson threw up peace signs as they watched the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in an overtime thriller during Game 2 at Benchmark International Arena.

April 20

The Pittsburgh Steelers had so much fun cheering on the Penguins against the Flyers in Game 1, they came back for Game 2 at PPG Paints Arena.

ESPN personality and Pittsburgh native Pat McAfee got fired up at his front row seats.

"Summer House" star Carl Radke took a break from all the drama to be mic'd during Game 2 and root for his hometown Penguins.

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White repped the Carolina Hurricanes as he watched Game 2 against the Ottawa Senators at Lenovo Center.

Western Conference First Round

April 30

Mike Trout and his Los Angeles Angels teammates walked across the street to Honda Center to support the Anaheim Ducks against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6.

The Minnesota Frost took in some NHL playoff action before their quest for a third-straight PWHL Walter Cup this week. The team cheered on the Minnesota Wild against the Dallas Stars in Game 6 at Grand Casino Arena.

April 26

The stars were out in Los Angeles on Sunday for the Western Conference First Round.

Actor Tom Hanks and his family took in Game 4, along with actors Josh Peck and Chase Stokes.

LA Chargers players Ladd McConkey, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still also enjoyed the game at Crypto.com Arena.

April 25

Minnesota Vikings linebackers Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel rocked Minnesota Wild gear as they enjoyed a Saturday evening watching Game 4 against the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena.

April 24

Actor Adam Devine and Green Day Drummer Tre Cool were flying high on the Anaheim Ducks during Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center.

April 23

Out in La la Land, comedy actor Will Ferrell supported the Los Angeles Kings from his season ticket seats during Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche at Crypto.com Arena. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer and his doppelganger, Chad Smith, sat next to him along the glass.

April 22

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson kicked off Game 3  between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena. Jefferson led Wild fans in a "Let's play hockey," chant prior to puck drop. He was also joined by his Vikings teammates in a suite.

April 21

Out in Colorado, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and his wife, Skylene, watched Game 2 between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings next to the Ball Arena glass.

In Las Vegas, comedian Nate Bargatze and PGA golfer Min Woo Lee proudly rocked their Vegas Golden Knights gear during Game 2 against the Utah Mammoth at T-Mobile Arena.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen didn’t let the Golden Knights fans intimidate him as he cheered on the Mammoth from the T-Mobile Arena stands in Game 2.

In an interview with Mammoth TV reporter Sarah Merrfield, Markkanen called being at a Mammoth playoff game “awesome.”

“Just seeing (the) Utah Mammoth fan base growing, seeing jerseys all over the place here. So, it’s pretty cool. Gotta come support the boys here,” Markkanen said.