Vegas Golden Knights win Game 1 5-4

The Vegas Golden Knights opened the Stanley Cup Final by taking back home-ice advantage. Vegas beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh after trailing by two goals in the first period. Tomas Hertl scored the winner late, and the Golden Knights got three-point nights from Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb, according to NHL.com. Carolina got an early burst from Nikolaj Ehlers, but it did not hold. ### How did Carolina build the early lead? Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice in the first period to put Carolina ahead 2-0. Jalen Chatfield assisted on both goals, helping drive the Hurricanes’ fast start in front of their home crowd, according to NHL.com and The Athletic. Lenovo Center hosted Carolina’s first Stanley Cup Final game since 2006, and the Hurricanes came out with pace. NHL.com’s Game 1 coverage described Vegas as surviving an early storm before turning the game back in its favor. ### How did Vegas turn the game around? Vegas answered with five goals and did not let Carolina’s first-period push decide the night. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s series page said Hertl broke the tie late, and listed Theodore and McNabb with three points each in the comeback. The Golden Knights’ rally fit the way NHL.com framed the opener: a comeback win on the road against a Hurricanes team that had entered the Final with home ice. (nhl.com) The official Gamecenter and live blog both recorded the final as a 5-4 Vegas victory. ### Why does the result matter this early in the series? The Stanley Cup Final is a best-of-seven series, and Vegas now leads 1-0 after winning on Carolina’s ice. (nhl.com) The NHL schedule page said the Hurricanes, by virtue of the higher regular-season point total, are hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 if necessary. (nhl.com) Carolina had entered the Final after returning to the championship round for the first time since 2006. Vegas reached the Final after sweeping the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, NHL.com said in its series lookahead. ### What stood out from Game 1 besides the score? (nhl.com) Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb each finished with three points for Vegas, giving the Golden Knights major production from the blue line in a one-goal game. NHL.com also highlighted Hertl’s late goal as the decisive moment in the opener. Carolina still got the kind of contribution it wanted from Ehlers and Chatfield early. (nhl.com) The Athletic’s live coverage highlighted Ehlers’ two first-period goals and Chatfield’s role in both, underscoring how quickly the Hurricanes put Vegas under pressure before the game flipped. (nhl.com) ### What happens next in Raleigh? Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 8 p.m. EDT at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. The NHL schedule lists Vegas at Carolina again before the series shifts to Las Vegas for Games 3 and 4. ABC will carry every game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final in the United States, NHL.com said. Vegas goes into Thursday with a 1-0 series lead, and Carolina will try to avoid leaving home down two games. (links.e1.theathletic.com) (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)