Stanley Cup Final opens tonight — Hurricanes host Golden Knights in Game 1

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final opens Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1. ABC said the best-of-seven series begins June 2, with Carolina holding home ice as the higher-seeded team. Sports betting markets opened with the Hurricanes favored at home, according to Sports Illustrated, while local demand pushed some resale ticket listings into five figures. ### When and where does Game 1 start? Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 2, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, according to NHL and ABC schedule listings. ABC said viewers can watch the opener on its network and digital platforms, and NHL.com listed Raleigh as the site for the start of the series. (abc.com) Tuesday’s game starts a standard 2-2-1-1-1 Finals format. Sporting News said that setup gives the higher-seeded club home games in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, if needed. ### Why does Carolina open at home? Carolina entered the Final with home-ice advantage, which is why the series begins in Raleigh. (abc.com) NHL.com’s schedule places Games 1 and 2 in North Carolina before the series shifts to Las Vegas for Games 3 and 4. NBC San Diego’s schedule roundup also said Carolina has home ice in the matchup with Vegas. (sportingnews.com) That aligns with the Finals rotation used by the league for the championship round. ### What were the early odds for Game 1? Sports Illustrated reported that Carolina opened as the home favorite for Game 1. (nhl.com) Yahoo Sports also said the Hurricanes opened as favorites for the series, while another Yahoo odds report listed Carolina at -155 against Vegas at the start of the matchup. (nbcsandiego.com) CBS Sports published model-based picks for the opener, reflecting the same pregame view that Carolina entered the night with market support. Those odds and projections can move through the day, but the opening line pointed to the Hurricanes as the early favorite on home ice. (si.com) ### How expensive are tickets getting? ABC11 reported Monday that some resale listings for a single Game 1 seat were advertised for more than $17,000. The station said tickets for Stanley Cup Final games at Lenovo Center went on sale Saturday and triggered a rush among fans trying to buy seats for the championship series. (cbssports.com) USA Today separately published a game-by-game ticket roundup for the series, underscoring how quickly prices climbed once the Final was set. ABC11 warned buyers to watch for scams as fans search resale marketplaces for last-minute seats. ### What happens after Tuesday night? (abc11.com) Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, in Raleigh before the series moves to Las Vegas for Game 3, according to NHL and Sporting News schedules. If the Final goes the distance, Game 7 would return to Carolina under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The next concrete milestone is the opening faceoff at 8 p.m. (abc11.com) ET on ABC, with Carolina and Vegas beginning a series that will determine the 2026 Stanley Cup champion. (abc.com) (nhl.com)