Shea Theodore celebrated the Vegas Golden Knights’ 5-4 Game 1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after a two-goal first-period burst from Nikolaj Ehlers put Vegas in an early hole. With the series now 1-0, Theodore said the team “we
For a team that had to dig out of an early hole, the moment felt almost earned twice.
In Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights took a one-game-to-none series lead by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4. The win left Vegas three victories away from their second Stanley Cup win in franchise history.
The opening stretch didn’t look like it would get them there. The Golden Knights trailed in the first period thanks to a pair of goals from Nikolaj Ehlers. But the comeback started with Shea Theodore getting the bench moving again—he scored a key goal to cut Vegas’ early deficit in half.
Afterward, Theodore made it clear what stuck with him most wasn’t the danger of falling behind early, but how his teammates responded once the pressure arrived. He praised the rest of the group for not wilting under the weight of trailing by multiple goals so early in the game.
“I think just the resiliency, we knew they would push in the first (period),” Theodore said via Sportsnet on X. “I felt like we weathered the storm. It was good to get one kind of late, and make it 2-1. I thought we really pushed in the second. and you know. we’re a great third period team and we like our game.”.
When asked if he ever remembers having to chase as many games as the club has this season, Theodore pointed to what the Golden Knights have already lived through during the regular season. He said the team faced difficulties all year and now feels comfortable with the grind.
“I mean, it kind of seems like that’s the way it was all year, we battled a lot of adversity through the regular season. We seem to be kind of comfortable with it now.”
Theodore’s Game 1 contribution came from a season-long steadiness. One of the longest-tenured members of the Golden Knights, he is now up to five goals and nine assists in 17 games played so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With Game 1 in the books, Vegas turns immediately to the next test. Theodore and the Golden Knights will play Carolina in Game 2 on Thursday evening.
Shea Theodore Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final 2026 Game 1 Nikolaj Ehlers resiliency playoffs
Storm? More like Hurricanes choked lol.
I didn’t even realize it was 5-4, that’s insane. Theodore toasting them like he didn’t just score the “key goal” or whatever. Either way, weathered the storm sounds like a coach excuse.
Wait so did Ehlers score twice in the first and then they just… casually came back? I’m guessing Carolina’s goalie let in some cheap ones, that’s usually what happens when it’s 2-0 early. Also “we’re a great third period team” like they didn’t basically invent late-game luck.
Game 1 being a ‘weathered the storm’ moment is kinda corny to me but whatever, it worked. The way they said Theodore scored and then everyone stayed calm, yeah that’s hockey speak for ‘we got lucky and didn’t panic.’ Also why is everyone acting like this season grind makes them tougher? The league has like 82 games every year, it’s not magic. Carolina better come out swinging in Game 2 or it’s gonna be a quick series.