Tomas Hertl scored the decisive goal with a backhand pass from Colton Sissons, beating Frederik Andersen from the slot with just 3:24 remaining in the third period. This goal lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night.
Hertl's goal capped off an exciting contest that saw the teams trade leads. With his finish from the right faceoff circle, he broke a 4-4 tie, propelling the Golden Knights ahead in a high-profile matchup on hockey's biggest stage.
This victory marked the Golden Knights' seventh consecutive win in the playoffs, a remarkable streak that began with two victories in their six-game second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. The team continued their momentum with a stunning four-game sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
In the series against Colorado, the Golden Knights showcased their resilience by overcoming a 3-0 deficit in Game 3. They maintained that formidable spirit in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period against a Hurricanes team that finished second in the NHL standings. The impressive comeback highlighted the Golden Knights’ tenacity and determination.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set to take place on Thursday in Raleigh, where the stakes will be even higher as both teams vie for an early lead in the series.
For Vegas, Shea Theodore, Ivan Barbashev, William Karlsson, and Brett Howden also contributed to the scoreboard. Howden's goal, which was his postseason-leading 11th, put the Golden Knights up 4-3 just 1:21 into the third period. Goaltender Carter Hart made 23 saves during the intense matchup.
On the other side, Nikolaj Ehlers made a significant impact for the Hurricanes by netting two goals. His first came just 25 seconds into the game with a quick rush that caught the Vegas defense off-guard, allowing him to fire a shot past Hart. Ehlers followed this up with a breakaway goal, adding to Carolina’s early 2-0 lead and igniting the home crowd in Raleigh, who had waited two decades for their franchise to compete in the Stanley Cup Final.
As the game progressed, the Hurricanes fought back with equalizing goals from Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere. Staal scored to tie the game earlier, while Gostisbehere tied it again at 4-4 after skating in clean on the left side and blasting a shot past Hart at 11:19 of the third period.
With the playoffs intensifying and both teams displaying skill and resilience, the stage is set for a competitive series as the Golden Knights aim to continue their winning streak while the Hurricanes look to reclaim momentum in Game 2.
