Tomas Hertl ended a long scoring drought with a goal 3:24 into the third period as the Vegas Golden Knights held off the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in a frantic Stanley Cup Final opener that swung after a 2-0 lead slipped away.
When the Hurricanes’ forecheck started chewing up the ice, it looked like Carolina might run away with it. Instead, Vegas hit back with the kind of momentum that doesn’t just change a score—it changes who believes they can win.
On Tuesday, June 2, Carolina faced its toughest opponent so far in the NHL playoffs and still ended up in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final: a 5-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. It was a turnover-filled game that flipped repeatedly, and the final turn came late.
Carolina started fast, building a 2-0 lead. Then the game tilted—Vegas fell behind 3-2, but twice the Hurricanes tied the score before Tomas Hertl’s winning goal with 3:24 left in the third period.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said afterward that it wasn’t just a matter of effort, but of handling the moment. “We didn’t handle the pressure particularly well.”
In the playoffs, Carolina’s pressure has been a weapon. Its forechecking, built to frustrate opponents, still did plenty of work. But the Hurricanes ran into the same kind of exit problems they hoped to prevent, because of the Golden Knights’ forecheck.
The sequence of the game mattered, too: Carolina led early, lost control in the middle, regained ties twice, and then watched a scoring drought end against them at the exact time the swing felt most dangerous.
There are winners and losers from this opener—names and numbers that explain why the Golden Knights left with a one-game lead, and what the Hurricanes will have to fix before the next chance.
Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl was the night’s hinge. He had gone through a 29-game goal drought that carried from the regular season into the playoffs. But his winning goal was his fourth goal in the last eight games. coming as he worked a give-and-go with Colton Sissons. When scoring finally returned, it returned in the most decisive way.
“There were some time,” Tortorella said. “It took a little time, but the time was getting short. … Once he scored, his game kind of changed. He’s come through at a very important time and has given up some consistent minutes.”
Another lift for Vegas came from Nikolaj Ehlers. a Hurricanes forward whose offseason investment Carolina made with a six-year deal averaging $8.5 million. In Game 1, he reinforced why the team spent. He scored 25 seconds into the game—described as the third fastest in the history of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals—and later made a breakaway play to make it 2-0.
Brayden McNabb also moved from his usual lane. Known more for shot blocking and physical play than for offense, he still produced in a way that helped drive Vegas’ attack. He recorded three assists—his first time doing so in a playoff game—while finishing as a plus-3 and blocking two shots.
For Carolina, the biggest disappointments were concentrated in its best moments and best spots.
The Hurricanes’ first line remains a problem. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis continued to struggle in the playoffs. Aho put the puck over the net on a close-in chance, and Svechnikov fanned on a one-timer.
Brind’Amour didn’t dress it up. “They had one good shift in the third there,” he said. “Everybody has to play well if you’re going to win at this time of year. Your best guys have to get on the scoresheet.”
Carolina’s power play also couldn’t carry the load. It entered the game at 12.5% and went 0-for-2 on Tuesday, with not many looks.
And the goaltending numbers—usually a steadier story—didn’t match the performances Carolina and Vegas have relied on.
Vegas’ Carter Hart made some good saves, but his save percentage was .852, while Carolina’s Frederik Andersen was at .783. Coming into the games, Hart had been at .924 and Andersen at .932.
Game 1 ends with Vegas taking the first step in the Stanley Cup Final—5-4. decided by Hertl’s late goal after Carolina’s early lead slipped and the game kept swinging back and forth. The Hurricanes now face the harder question: how to keep their pressure working when Vegas is applying it right back. and how to make their best players and their power play show up before the next opening bell.
Stanley Cup Final Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Hurricanes Tomas Hertl Rod Brind'Amour Carter Hart Frederik Andersen Nikolaj Ehlers Brayden McNabb Game 1 winners and losers
3-24 into the third?? Sounds like the fix was in lol.
Hurricanes were up 2-0 and still lost 5-4… how does that even happen. Vegas really just stole the momentum. Also 2-0 lead slipping away is just brutal.
I guess it’s because Carolina “didn’t handle the pressure” which like… okay but what does that mean, they got nervous? If they had just forechecked harder the ice wouldn’t get chewed up. Wild how Hertl’s drought ending was the turning point like that.
Vegas always finds a way. I swear every time I watch the Final it’s like the teams start scoring then forget how to play defense. Carolina tying twice and still giving up the late one is so classic. Also the part about turnovers—doesn’t that mean refs messed up or was it just “exit problems” like they said? Either way, Game 2 is gonna be the same story just different goals.