Tomas Hertl scores game-winner as Golden Knights rally to beat Hurricanes in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

The Vegas Golden Knights person taken Game 1 of nan Stanley Cup Final, erasing nan Carolina Hurricanes' early 2-0 lead to triumph a thrilling 5-4 crippled successful Raleigh and group nan reside for this best-of-seven series.

It’s a seven-game triumph streak for Vegas now, arsenic they haven’t mislaid since Game 4 of nan Western Conference Semifinals against nan Anaheim Ducks. They amazingly swept nan Colorado Avalanche to triumph nan West, and they kept that momentum going connected nan road.

Tomas Hertl was nan leader for nan Golden Knights successful Game 1, arsenic he scored nan game-winning extremity connected a snipe pinch 3:25 near successful nan 3rd period.

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Tomas Hertl of nan Vegas Golden Knights celebrates a extremity during nan 2nd play against nan Carolina Hurricanes successful Game One of nan 2026 Stanley Cup Final astatine Lenovo Center successful Raleigh, North Carolina, connected June 2, 2026. (Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)

But it wasn’t easy for Vegas successful nan first play erstwhile nan Hurricanes were speedy to asseverate their home-ice advantage conscionable 25 seconds into nan game.

It was nan first changeable connected extremity for either broadside erstwhile Nikolaj Ehlers poked a puck past an fierce Shea Theodore for Vegas, and he sprinted down crystal toward Carter Hart, who mans nan Golden Knights’ net. Ehlers, though, had nan cleanable shot, ringing nan station and sending nan Hurricanes religious into a frenzy pinch nan 1-0 lead earlier immoderate could moreover get to their seats.

DESPITE POTENTIAL RATINGS NIGHTMARE FOR NHL, VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS PLENTY OF INTRIGUE

Then, midway done nan period, Ehlers recovered himself successful yet different breakaway scenario, and he didn’t squander nan opportunity to return advantage. He put a nifty move connected Hart, and his backhand recovered nan nett to make it 2-0.

Jalen Chatfield besides had his oculus down ice, recognizing that Ehlers was uncovered and quickly turned Jack Eichel’s turnover into nan opportunity.

But if there’s thing nan Golden Knights person proved successful these Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s to ne'er count them out. Another illustration of that was seen connected Tuesday night.

Theodore made up for his mishap to commencement nan crippled pinch an absolute rocket disconnected his instrumentality connected a one-timer that saw its measurement done postulation and past Frederik Anderson successful nett to get Vegas connected nan committee soon aft Ehlers’ 2nd goal.

Then, arsenic nan 2nd play sewage underway, it was Ivan Barbashev who decided to return nan favour of scoring successful 30 seconds aliases less. As Vegas entered nan violative area pinch speed, nan puck recovered Jack Eichel's stick. He quickly spotted Ivan Barbashev cutting done nan slot, and Barbashev fired a changeable complete Frederik Andersen's correct enarthrosis earlier nan goalie could react.

Nikolaj Ehlers of nan Carolina Hurricanes scores his 2nd extremity against nan Vegas Golden Knights during nan first play successful Game One of nan 2026 Stanley Cup Final astatine Lenovo Center successful Raleigh, N.C., connected June 2, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

With that, nan Golden Knights tied this crippled up, but they didn’t fto nan momentum go. William Karlsson, who already has a cup nether his loop for Vegas, did his portion successful seeking nan adjacent trophy. Mitch Marner had a tremendous backhand walk from down nan nett that recovered Karlsson’s instrumentality each unsocial retired successful front, and Anderson had nary chance arsenic Vegas took a 3-2 lead.

At that moment, nan aerial successful nan Lenovo Center was taken correct retired of nan fans’ sails, but a trusty seasoned restored that later successful nan period. Jordan Staal, who watched his relative and 2006 Stanley Cup champion pinch nan Hurricanes, Eric Staal, get nan crowd going pinch nan siren astatine puck drop, potted his 3rd extremity of these playoffs.

Jordan Staal snapped a wrister past Hart acknowledgment to a heads-up play by K’Andre Miller to support nan puck onside and find his teammate accelerated for nan grade-A chance.

The bleeding was stopped, but nan 3rd play was bound to beryllium a thriller based connected really these 2 teams were uncovering clear chances to score. Who collapsed nan necktie first was nan awesome question, and Brett Howden had nan reply conscionable 1:21 into nan period.

The playoff leader successful goals, Howden had a beautiful extremity connected a changeable by Theodore for his 11th of nan playoffs and possibly his astir important successful Game 1. The scoreboard remained silent for immoderate clip aft that, pinch some teams trying to group up coagulated forechecks, but to nary avail. The Hurricanes moreover had a powerfulness play, but they couldn’t find nan backmost of nan net.

William Karlsson of nan Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his extremity pinch teammates during nan 2nd play of Game One of nan Stanley Cup Final against nan Carolina Hurricanes astatine Lenovo Center successful Raleigh, N.C., connected June 2, 2026. (Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Then, pinch 8:41 left, immoderate puck luck recovered nan Hurricanes, arsenic defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw an violative area face-off biscuit autumn correct into his thigh pinch nary 1 around. He secured nan puck connected his instrumentality leaf and wristed it past Hart for nan 4-4 tie.

However, nan rollercoaster thrust for nan Hurricanes didn’t person a happy ending erstwhile they sewage off, pinch Hertl’s goal, assisted connected a crafty Sissons' walk pursuing a face-off, being nan last opportunity successful this one.

Game 2 of this bid will beryllium played erstwhile much successful Raleigh connected Thursday nighttime astatine 8 p.m. ET.

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