Hertl's late goal lifts Golden Knights 5-4 — Hurricanes Vs Golden Knights
The Golden Knights beat the Hurricanes 5-4 in hurricanes vs golden knights Game 1 on Tuesday in Raleigh, and Tomas Hertl scored the winner with 3:24 remaining in regulation. Vegas now leads the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final 1-0 after surviving Carolina's 2-0 start.
Hertl and Theodore turn it
Hertl finished a give-and-go with Colton Sissons, taking the puck in the slot and beating Frederik Andersen with a top-shelf shot. The goal capped a wild swing after Carolina had built a 2-0 lead and then watched Vegas answer with four different scorers before Hertl ended it.
Shea Theodore cut the deficit to 2-1 80 seconds after Nikolaj Ehlers' second goal, then Ivan Barbashev tied it 30 seconds into the second period. William Karlsson pushed Vegas ahead 3-2 at 4:35 of the second period, and Brett Howden restored the lead 81 seconds into the third before Hertl delivered the finish.
Ehlers opens fast
Ehlers scored 25 seconds into the game, the third-fastest goal in history to start a final, then added another at 12:08 of the first period. Jordan Staal tied it 3-3 eight minutes after Karlsson's goal, but Carolina could not hold the lead it had built early.
The scoring pace left little margin for either side. Shayne Gostisbehere also scored for Carolina, while Jalen Chatfield had two assists and Ehlers finished with two goals. For Vegas, Theodore had three points, Brett Howden added a goal and an assist, and Brayden McNabb set a career playoff high with three assists.
Vegas takes road control
Carter Hart made 23 saves for Vegas, and Frederik Andersen stopped 18 shots for Carolina. The Golden Knights won their first game of the series on the road in Raleigh, a result that gives them the early edge in a Final where Game 1 winners have gone on to take the Cup 76.4% of the time, and that rate drops to 65.6% when the visiting team wins the opener.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday in Raleigh, and Carolina enters it after losing for only the second time in these playoffs.
