Golden Knights erase 2-0 deficit to beat Hurricanes 5-4 in Game 1

The Vegas Golden Knights took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, erasing an early 2-0 lead from the Carolina Hurricanes to earn a thrilling 5-4 victory in Raleigh, setting the tone for this best-of-seven series.

Vegas is now on a seven-game winning streak 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 continued that momentum on the road.

Tomas Hertl was the Golden Knights’ hero in Game 1, scoring the game-winning goal with 3:25 left in the third period.

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But it didn’t get any easier for Vegas in the first period, when the Hurricanes quickly asserted their home-field advantage just 25 seconds into the game.

It was the first shot on goal for either side, as Nikolaj Ehlers took the puck past attacker Shea Theodore for Vegas and raced up the ice toward Carter Hart, who manned the Golden Knights’ goal. But Ehlers took a perfect shot, stole the post and sent the Hurricanes into a frenzy with a 1-0 lead before some could even reach their place.

DESPITE A POTENTIAL RATING NIGHTMARE FOR THE NHL, THE VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS MANY INTRICTATIONS

Then, midway through the semester, Ehlers found himself in another escape scenario, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to take advantage of it. He made a stylish move on Hart and made the score 2-0 with a backhand shot.

Jalen Chatfield also realized that Ehlers was exposed and 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 to never count them out. An example of this was seen on Tuesday night.

Theodore made up for his crash, starting the game with a one-timer that weaved through traffic and past Frederik Anderson at the net to get Vegas on the board shortly after Ehlers’ second goal.

Then, as the second period began, it was Ivan Barbashev who made it pay off to score in 30 seconds or less. As Vegas raced into the offensive zone, 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 Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 2, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

With that, the Golden Knights tied the game but did not lose the momentum. Already holding a trophy for Vegas, William Karlsson did his part to get the next one. Mitch Marner took a tremendous backhand pass from behind the net and found Karlsson’s stick in front alone, and Anderson had no chance with Vegas taking a 3-2 lead.

At that moment, the atmosphere of the Lenovo Center was sucked out of the fans’ wings, but a reliable veteran later brought it back. Jordan Staal scored his third goal of these playoffs as he watched his brother Eric Staal, the 2006 Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes, galvanize the crowd with a siren as he shot the puck.

Thanks to K’Andre Miller’s one-on-one play, Jordan Staal kept the puck in his own half past Hart and quickly found his teammate for a grade-A chance.

The bleeding was stopped, but the third period would be a thriller depending on how these two teams had clear scoring chances. Who could break the tie first was the real question, and Brett Howden found the answer just 1:21 into the period.

Howden, the playoff leader in goals, gave a good tip about Theodore’s 11th shot of the playoffs and perhaps the most important shot of Game 1. The scoreboard was quiet for a while after that, with both teams trying 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 a goal with teammates during the second period of Game One of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on June 2, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Then, with 8:41 left, some puck luck found the Hurricanes, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw the offensive zone face-off cookie fall directly into his lap with no one around. He pinned the puck on the stick blade and passed it past Hart for a 4-4 tie.

But the Hurricanes’ roller-coaster ride didn’t have a happy ending when they started out; Hertl’s goal was the final word this time as he assisted Sissons’ crafty pass after a tackle.

Game 2 of this series will be played once again on Thursday night at 8pm ET in Raleigh.

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