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Taking Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights erased an early 2-0 lead by the Carolina Hurricanes to win a thrilling 5-4 game in Raleigh and set the tone for this best-of-seven series.
It’s a seven-game winning streak for Vegas now, as they haven’t lost since Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks. They surprisingly swept the Colorado Avalanche to win the West, and they kept that momentum going on the road.
Tomas Hertl was the hero for the Golden Knights in Game 1, scoring the game-winning goal on a snipe with 3:25 left in the third period.
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Tomas Hertl of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates a second period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 2, 2026. (Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
But it wasn’t easy for Vegas in the first period as the Hurricanes were quick to assert their home ice advantage just 25 seconds into the game.
It was the first shot on goal for either side as Nikolaj Ehlers slipped the puck past an aggressive Shea Theodore for Vegas and sprinted down the ice toward Carter Hart, who is manning the Golden Knights’ net. However, Ehlers had the perfect shot, ringing the post and sending the Hurricanes faithful into a frenzy with the 1-0 lead before some could even reach their seats.
DESPITE POTENTIAL BETTING NIGHTMARE FOR NHL, VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS PLENTY OF INTRIGUE
Then, midway through the period, Ehlers found himself in another breakout scenario, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to take advantage. He put a smart move on Hart and his backhand found the net for 2-0.
Jalen Chatfield also had his eye down as he recognized Ehlers was exposed and quickly turned Jack Eichel’s turnover into the opportunity.
But if there’s one thing the Golden Knights have proven in these Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s never count them out. Another example of that was seen on Tuesday night.
Theodore made up for his bad luck to start the game with an absolute rocket off his stick on a one-timer that weaved its way through traffic and past Frederik Anderson in the net to get Vegas on the board shortly after Ehlers’ second goal.
Then, as the second period got under way, it was Ivan Barbashev who decided to return a score in 30 seconds or less. As Vegas entered the offensive zone with speed, the puck found Jack Eichel’s stick. He quickly spotted Ivan Barbashev cutting through the slot, and Barbashev fired a shot over Frederik Andersen’s right shoulder before the goalkeeper could react.
Nikolaj Ehlers of the Carolina Hurricanes scores his second goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of Game One of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC on June 2, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
With that, the Golden Knights tied this game, but they didn’t let the momentum go. William Karlsson, who already has a trophy under his belt for Vegas, did his part to seek the next trophy. Mitch Marner had a great backhand pass behind the net that found Karlsson’s stick all alone in front, and Anderson had no chance as Vegas led 3-2.
At that moment, the air in the Lenovo Center was taken right out of the fans’ sails, but it restored a faithful veteran later in the period. Jordan Staal, who watched his brother and 2006 Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes, Eric Staal, get the crowd going with the puck-drop siren, scored his third goal of these playoffs.
Jordan Staal wristed past Hart thanks to a heads-up play from K’Andre Miller to keep the puck in and find his teammate quickly for the Grade-A chance.
The bleeding was stopped, but the third period was to be a thriller based on how these two teams found clear chances to score. Who broke the tie first was the big question, and Brett Howden had the answer just 1:21 into the period.
The playoff leader in goals, Howden had a beautiful tip on a shot from Theodore for his 11th of the playoffs and perhaps his most important in Game 1. The scoreboard remained silent for some time after that, with both teams trying to set up solid forechecks but to no avail. The Hurricanes even had a power play, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of Game One of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC, on June 2, 2026. (Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Then, with 8:41 left, some puck luck found the Hurricanes when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw an offensive zone face-off puck drop right into his lap with no one around. He secured the puck on his stick and wriggled it past Hart to tie the game at 4-4.
The Hurricanes’ rollercoaster ride didn’t have a happy ending, however, as they pulled away with Hertl’s goal, assisted on a crafty Sissons pass after a face-off, having the final say in this one.
Game 2 of this series will be played again in Raleigh on Thursday night at 20 A.M.
