SPORTS
Las Vegas edges Carolina in wild Stanley Cup opener
PUBLISHED Jun 3, 2026, 10:19 AM ET
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In Las Vegas on Tuesday night, the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, extending their postseason winning streak to seven games. Tomas Hertl scored the decisive goal from the slot with 3:24 remaining in the third period after receiving a backhand pass from Colton Sisson to break a 4-4 tie. Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers had opened the scoring with two first-period goals for a 2-0 lead. Vegas answered through Shea Theodore, Ivan Barbashev, William Karlsson and Brett Howden, while Shayne Gostisbehere scored Carolina’s late equalizer. Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart made 23 saves.
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Second period Vegas begins comeback push
- Early third period Howden puts Vegas ahead
- Mid third period Gostisbehere levels the score
- Final minutes Hertl nets decisive winner
- Tuesday night Golden Knights secure 5-4 victory
- Postgame Vegas extends playoff winning streak
- This postseason Carolina reaches Stanley Cup Final
News Intelligence
- If you're a hockey fan, this game was a rollercoaster. The Golden Knights' comeback from a 2-0 deficit shows their resilience. Carolina's performance proves they're a worthy opponent. This series could be a nail-biter. Keep an eye on the next game.
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