The Golden Knights overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Hurricanes 5-4 in Game 1.

The Vegas Golden Knights took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, erasing the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2-0 lead to win a thriller 5-4 in Raleigh and set the tone for this best-of-seven series.

It’s now a seven-game winning streak for Vegas, 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, as he scored the game-winning goal with 3:25 left in the third period.

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But it wasn’t easy for Vegas in the first half 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 dribbled the puck past Vegas’ aggressive Shea Theodore, and ran down the ice toward Golden Knights netminder Carter Hart. However, Ehlers had a great shot, ringing the post and sending the Hurricanes reeling to a 1-0 lead before the others took their seats.

BEYOND THE POSSIBLY NON-RANDOM NIGHTS IN THE NHL, THE VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL IS OFTEN AN ENTRIGUE

Then, midway through the season, Ehlers found himself in yet another stalemate, and he never took advantage of the opportunity. He put a good move on Hart, and his back found the net to make it 2-0.

Jalen Chatfield also kept his eye on the ground, realizing that Ehlers was exposed 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 you should never count them out. Another example of that was seen on Tuesday night.

Theodore made amends to start the game with a one-stick rocket that found its way through traffic and past Frederik Anderson in the net to put Vegas on the board shortly after Ehlers’ second goal.

When the second half started, it was Ivan Barbashev who decided to return the favor of hitting 30 seconds or less. As Vegas entered the offensive zone at speed, the puck found the stick of Jack Eichel. He quickly spotted Ivan Barbashev cutting through space, and Barbashev fired over Frederik Andersen’s right shoulder before the keeper 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 the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC, on June 2, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

With that, the Golden Knights tied the game, but did not give up the momentum. William Karlsson, who already has a trophy under his belt in Vegas, has done his part in the quest for the next trophy. Mitch Marner had a wonderful pass in the back of the net that found Karlsson’s stick alone in front, and Anderson had no chance as Vegas took a 3-2 lead.

At that time, the wind at the Lenovo center was taken out of the fans’ boat, but the loyal veteran made it back in time. Jordan Staal, who watched as his brother and 2006 Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes, Eric Staal, sent the crowd into a frenzy at the puck drop, scored his third goal of the playoffs.

Jordan Staal flicked a wrister past Hart on a play over the top of K’Andre Miller to lay aside and quickly find a teammate for a Class A opportunity.

The bleeding was stopped, but the third period should have been interesting as both teams had clear chances to score goals. Who broke the tie first was the big question, and Brett Howden had the answer 1:21 into the period.

The playoff leader in goals, Howden had a nice tip on Theodore’s 11th shot of the playoffs and perhaps the most important in Game 1. The scoreboard remained silent for some time after that, with both teams trying to set up strong forechecks, but to no avail. The Hurricanes played even harder but didn’t get a goal.

William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates a goal with a teammate 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 luck struck the Hurricanes, as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw a face-off zone biscuit land in his lap with nobody there. He got the puck on his stick and rolled it past Hart for a 4-4 tie.

However, the Hurricanes’ rollercoaster ride did not have a happy ending as they went down, Hertl’s goal, assisted by Sissons’ clever goal following a face-off, was the final word this time.

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

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