5-4 Vegas FINAL
GAME RECAP
Vegas needed every second of regulation to steal Game 1 in Raleigh, edging Carolina 5–4 in a wild opener that swung like a metronome and never settled. Both teams looked exactly as advertised: Carolina fast and layered, Vegas poised and opportunistic.
The night detonated early. Twenty‑five seconds in, Nikolaj Ehlers jumped on a loose puck and stunned Vegas. Minutes later, he struck again — a two‑goal punch that had PNC Arena vibrating. Vegas finally answered when Shea Theodore threaded one through traffic to cut the deficit.
The second period belonged to Vegas’ depth. Barbashev and Karlsson scored in quick succession, flipping the script and forcing Carolina to chase. But the Hurricanes’ captain wasn’t having it — Jordan Staal muscled home the equalizer, dragging the game back to level ground.
Early in the third, Vegas surged again. Brett Howden found space, found the puck, and found the net for a 4–3 lead. Carolina refused to fold. Shayne Gostisbehere, who has been a quiet weapon all postseason, blasted home his third of the playoffs to tie it once more.
But Vegas had one more card to play. With two minutes left, Tomas Hertl buried the eventual winner — a dagger that held through a frantic final push from Carolina. Vegas walks out with the opener, but nothing about this game suggested a short series.
Two rested contenders collide as Carolina’s pace meets Vegas’ precision in a heavyweight Stanley Cup Final
Latest Stats, Highlights, Data at Source Vegas Golden Knights - Carolina Hurricanes - Jun 2, 2026 | NHL.com
