RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes had been living stress-free for so long, this series was always going to be a monumental adjustment.They’re the first team to reach the Stanley Cup Final with fewer than two losses since the NHL went to all best-of-seven series in 1987. Sheesh.They were never really pushed for three rounds. They got to play their game, their way, on their terms, for six weeks.It’s unheard of, really.But, and you knew there was a “but” coming, the downside of being so dominant for so long is that there’s a lack of scar tissue, and it didn’t prepare them for what awaited them in this Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Oh, believe me, coach Rod Brind’Amour told them all the right things before this series — what to be prepared for, that the Golden Knights were a totally different beast. That the days were over of being able to completely dominate the entire stats sheet, that this would be a totally different experience.“I think we knew that coming in, or knew that it was going to be like this,” Brind’Amour said on Wednesday between Games 1 and 2. “There was no (thought of) we were going to be able to own any of the categories. It’s just not how it’s going to go.”But saying it and truly believing it are two different things. Through five and a half periods of the Stanley Cup Final, the Hurricanes were still struggling to adjust to their new reality. Which is that they needed to find a way to feel comfortable in a series in which the opposition would finally have its say for important stretches.“It’s the two best teams left, right?” Hurricanes winger William Carrier said after his team’s 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 on Thursday night. “It’s not going to be easy. That’s why it makes it special to go out there and win it tonight. You need your absolute best game. With Game 1, 90 percent wasn’t good enough.”Trailing 2-0 midway through the third period, the Hurricanes faced the ultimate test of whether they could adjust to this challenge. The Canes really couldn’t go down 2-0 in the series and head on the road to Las Vegas.“It was tough, too, because we didn’t give them much, right, to that point?’’ Carrier said of the two-goal deficit. “We hadn’t given up much, but a couple of individual efforts by them. It was tough, but I’m proud of this team. We kept with it. And that building was incredible at 2-1. It might have been different on the road. But once we got to 2-1, the building and the energy, it was huge.’’Three goals in a span of 5 minutes, 5 seconds. But then the Canes gave up their short-lived 3-2 lead when Mark Stone tied it late for Vegas late in the third period.More adversity. But the Canes came out flying in overtime, which culminated in Seth Jarvis’ game-winner.“The two best teams are going at it right now, so obviously it’s not going to be a cakewalk,” said Carolina forward Mark Jankowski, who scored a beauty of a goal in Game 2. “We have all the belief in our group. If things aren’t going our way, just stick with it, stick with the process.”