By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — After a back-and-forth contest at a raucous Lenovo Center that saw a total of 9 goals scored, Vegas came out on top over Carolina in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
Read more Citing ‘critical issues,’ SEC, Big Ten withhold support for bipartisan college sports bill
The Golden Knights outlasted the Hurricanes 5-4 Tuesday night in Raleigh to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Canes struck early — just 25 seconds into the game, in fact — in their first Stanley Cup Final game in 20 years when Nikolaj Ehlers found the back of the net. The Danish national then scored again just past the 12-minute mark of the first period to put the home team up 2-0 early.
But the Golden Knights answered a minute and 20 seconds later and the Canes’ lead was 2-1 at the end of the first frame. Vegas then tied it at 2-2 just 30 seconds into the second period, and then took a 3-2 lead at the 4:35 mark on a William Karlsson goal.
Read more Angels outfielder Jo Adell misplays flyball into home run off his head, much like Canseco in 1993
Canes captain Jordan Staal then tied it again at the 12:42 mark of the second period, and the teams went into the final frame knotted at 3-3.
A goal from Brett Howden a minute and 21 seconds in temporarily hushed the Caniacs in the building. But they came back to life at the 11:19 mark when Shayne Gostisbehere snuck one past Carter Hart.
The visitors would have the last say, however. Thomas Hertl broke the 4-4 tie after scoring off a faceoff with less than four minutes left in the contest. That goal proved to be the game winner.
Read more Matt Olson, baseball’s iron man, stars for the Braves on Lou Gehrig Day
Game 2 is set for Thursday night in Raleigh.