Hertl's late strike lifts Golden Knights past Hurricanes in Game 1

Tomas Hertl converted a backhand pass from Colton Sissons with just over three minutes left to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 victory in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Carolina’s explosive opening

Nikolaj Ehlers scored just 25 seconds into the game after stealing the puck outside the defensive blueline and beating Carter Hart on a breakaway. Jaccob Slavin followed with a shot off the crossbar one minute later as Carolina dominated early possession. Ehlers added his second goal on another breakaway, sending a backhand five-hole past Hart and giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead. The Golden Knights managed only two shots on net during this stretch and finished the first period with four total shots compared to Carolina’s 12.

Shea Theodore’s point shot later beat Frederik Andersen through a Keegan Kolesar screen to cut the deficit to 2-1 before the period ended. Logan Stankoven’s breakaway attempt was stopped by Hart, preventing further damage for Vegas.

Vegas evens the score in the second

Ivan Barbashev scored early in the second period on a wrister assisted by Jack Eichel to make it 2-2. Mitch Marner then set up William Karlsson alone in front for the Golden Knights’ first lead at 3-2. Jordan Staal tied the game again after K’Andre Miller held the line on a weak clear by Noah Hanifin. Carolina was held to just four shots in the period while Vegas recorded 11.

Mistakes proved costly as both teams traded leads amid magnified errors in transition and defensive zone play.

Hertl delivers the decisive blow

Theodore found Brett Howden at the side of the net early in the third for a 4-3 Vegas lead. Shayne Gostisbehere tied it at 4-4 with less than nine minutes remaining after jumping on a loose puck off a faceoff and beating Hart short-side. Hart made a glove save on Seth Jarvis, then on the next shift Sissons made the backhand pass to Hertl who scored to restore the lead at 5-4 with just over three minutes to play. Carolina pulled Andersen for an extra attacker but could not convert.

The Golden Knights finished with the road victory after trailing by two goals early.