Original Golden Knights seize early lead in Game 1

Golden Knights – Vegas’ original core set the tone in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, with Karlsson and Theodore combining for key goals and Brayden McNabb delivering his first three-assist performance of his NHL career in a 5-4 victory over Carolina. The win carried deeper m

By the time the opening stretch in Game 1 turned into something more like a statement, the Vegas bench already looked calmer than it had any right to in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Golden Knights leaned on the players who helped build the franchise from the start—and this time, it arrived early. In a 5-4 win over Carolina on Tuesday night, Erik Karlsson and Shea Theodore each scored, while Brayden McNabb recorded the first three-assist performance of his NHL career.

Karlsson framed it as a return to a familiar feeling. “It’s the same feeling as Year 1.” The comparison carried weight: that first run ended in defeat. but it also set the perennial expectation that Vegas would keep showing up for games that decide championships. The franchise hoisted the Cup in Year 6 in 2023. and the urgency to chase another parade on the Las Vegas Strip was visible from the start of this series.

Coach John Tortorella—taking over in late March—pointed to why the early moment didn’t shake them. “They’re calm,” Tortorella said. “The foundation of our team, the guts of our team, has been through this before. … Those guys kind of lead the way by not panicking. They don’t say much, they just play, and I think other people follow behind them. I think that’s so important this time of year.”.

That foundation includes Karlsson, whose return changed the look of everything around him.

Karlsson’s comeback reshaped Vegas’ lineup

Karlsson’s absence had been one reason Vegas didn’t look as dominant in the regular season. He was out from early November until the start of the second round because of an undisclosed injury.

Now back, he talked about the mindset shift that came with it. “I learned not to take anything for granted,” Karlsson said. “It wasn’t always just a straight line. Some minor setbacks. But I always have the mind to come back for playoffs, and I’m very happy to be able to be a part of it.”

His return also opened space for Mitch Marner to slide into his more natural right wing from center. Since Karlsson returned, Marner has 15 points in 11 games, while Karlsson has six.

“It’s super fun to play hockey, and I’m happy to be getting a lot of minutes and help the team,” Karlsson said.

For Vegas, the timing of that impact matters. The Knights went into the season facing a major void on the blue line, with No. 1 defenseman Alex Pietrangelo unlikely to play again because of a chronic hip injury.

Former coach Bruce Cassidy had described Pietrangelo’s impact during the ‘23 title run, saying he knew Pietrangelo was good but coming to appreciate the do-everything, all-around game up close. That absence forced the kind of reshuffling that can define playoff identities.

Theodore filled the gap—and grew a new dimension

Shea Theodore stepped into Pietrangelo’s role when that void opened, and it wasn’t only about offense. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Theodore’s season added a different layer than what they were used to.

“…Shea’s game this season has just added a completely different layer than what we were used to because he’s always been a great puck-mover. always been a very good offensive defenceman. ” McCrimmon said. “Shea has become a penalty killer. He never killed penalties prior at all. He’s on the ice when it’s 6 on 5 against, where in the past he would not have been. And I’m really proud of him, to be honest with you. I think he’s really grown into it.”.

Tortorella also highlighted what happened in Game 1 after Carolina struck quickly. Theodore bounced back after getting “spanked” on Carolina’s opening goal 25 seconds in.

“It doesn’t bother him, and he probably plays one of the better games,” Tortorella said. “He just played. I think it’s a really good lesson for all of us to see.”

Theodore’s impact didn’t stop at scoring. After Vegas fell behind 2-0, he scored the team’s first goal, then later delivered a “textbook” shot-pass to Brett Howden for a goal in the third period.

Howden—whose 11 goals lead the post-season—explained why it was special. “His vision is unbelievable,” Howden said. “He wasn’t even looking at me, but I feel like he knew that I was going there and he made an unbelievable pass there. I just had to chip it in.”

McNabb’s unusual offensive flash

Brayden McNabb has spent more than a decade as a reliable defensive presence, and that still reads as his core job: keeping the puck out of the net, guarding and hitting opponents.

But on Tuesday night, he did something he hadn’t done in this postseason stretch as often. He doubled his assist total for the entire playoffs with his three assists in Game 1.

Through the first three rounds, McNabb had just three assists. On this night, he added three more in one game.

Theodore pointed to the chemistry that helped create it. “He’s an offensive guy.”

McNabb gave credit for the setup, too. “My partner did most of the work on all of them, really,” McNabb said, crediting Theodore. “But, yeah, the guys made great plays, and it’s nice to chip in offensively when I can.”

A franchise built by its originals

Vegas has added plenty of talent since its overachieving inaugural season, including captain Mark Stone, top center Jack Eichel and Marner.

Still, the emotional center of the building runs through the original Golden Knights. That reverence is real—and it showed in the way players talked about leadership and culture when Karlsson returned.

Howden put it plainly. “They mean everything. They’re the ones that built this team from the ground up. They built a culture here, starting from the top down. But those guys were here from the start, and they lead the way. They’re unbelievable leaders in the room.”

Reilly Smith, one of those names from the beginning, fits into the story as well. He was traded and then reacquired, and he’d been playing until Karlsson returned.

Game 1 doesn’t decide anything by itself, but this one did something that feels hard to dismiss: it reminded Carolina—and everyone else watching—that Vegas didn’t just survive pressure. It answered it early, with the players who know what this moment costs.

And with the originals back in rhythm, the next shift of the series won’t be about whether Vegas can score. It will be about whether Carolina can keep up with the kind of calm that only comes from experience in games that matter.

Stanley Cup Final Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Game 1 Erik Karlsson Shea Theodore Brayden McNabb John Tortorella Mitch Marner Alex Pietrangelo Brett Howden Reilly Smith