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The Vegas Golden Knights took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, erasing the Carolina Hurricanes’ early 2-0 lead to win a thrilling 5-4 game in Raleigh and set the tone for this best-of-seven series.
It’s now a seven-game winning streak for Las Vegas, as they haven’t lost since Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks. Surprisingly, they swept the Colorado Avalanche to win the West and kept that momentum on the road.
Tomas Hertl was the hero for the Golden Knights in the first game, as he scored the winning goal with a shot with 3:25 left in the third period.
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Tomas Hertl of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates a goal during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final 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 quickly asserted their home-ice advantage just 25 seconds into the game.
It was the first shot on goal for either side when Nikolaj Ehlers poked a puck past an aggressive Shea Theodore for Las Vegas, and raced up the ice toward Carter Hart, who mans the Golden Knights net. Ehlers, however, had the perfect shot, grazing the post and sending the Hurricanes faithful wild with a 1-0 lead before some could even reach their seats.
DESPITE THE NIGHTMARE OF POTENTIAL NHL QUALIFICATIONS, THE VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS A LOT OF INTRIGUE
Then, midway through the period, Ehlers found himself faced with another breakout scenario and didn’t waste the opportunity to take advantage. He made a clever move on Hart and his backhand found the net to make it 2-0.
Jalen Chatfield also had his sights set, recognizing that Ehlers was uncovered and quickly turned Jack Eichel’s turnover into an opportunity.
But if there’s one thing the Golden Knights have proven in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s that they’re never counted out. Another example of this was seen on Tuesday night.
Theodore made up for his mishap to start the game with an absolute one-timer off his stick that weaved through traffic and beat Frederik Anderson into the net to put Vegas on the board shortly after Ehlers’ second goal.
Then, as the second half began, it was Ivan Barbashev who decided to return the favor by scoring 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 coming through the slot, and Barbashev 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 during the first period of game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 2, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
With that, the Golden Knights tied this game, but didn’t let the momentum go. William Karlsson, who already has a cup under his belt with Las Vegas, did his part in the search for the next trophy. Mitch Marner had a tremendous backhand pass from behind the net that found Karlsson’s stick just in front, and Anderson had no chance as Vegas took a 3-2 lead.
At the time, the air in the Lenovo Center was knocked out of fans’ sails, but a reliable veteran restored it later in the period. Jordan Staal, who watched his brother and 2006 Hurricanes Stanley Cup champion Eric Staal pump up the crowd with the siren as he dropped the puck, scored his third goal of these playoffs.
Jordan Staal beat Hart on a one-on-one play by K’Andre Miller to keep the puck in play and find his teammate quickly for the Grade A chance.
The bleeding stopped, but the third period was set to be a thriller based on how these two teams found clear scoring opportunities. Who broke the tie first was the biggest question, and Brett Howden had the answer just 1:21 into the period.
Howden, the playoff leader in goals, had a beautiful tip on a Theodore shot for his 11th of the playoffs and perhaps the most important in Game 1. The scoreboard was silent for some time after that, and both teams tried to make solid forechecks, but to no avail. The Hurricanes even had a power play, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with his teammates during the second period of game one of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 2, 2026. (Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Then, with 8:41 left, some luck found the Hurricanes, as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw an offensive zone faceoff cookie land right in his lap with no one around. He secured the puck on his stick and passed it to Hart to tie it 4-4.
However, the Hurricanes’ rollercoaster ride did not have a happy ending as they went down, with Hertl’s goal, assisted by a clever pass from Sissons following a face-off, being the final say in this one.
The second game of this series will be played once again in Raleigh on Thursday night at 8 pm ET.
