RALEIGH – Tomas Hertl scored with just over three minutes left in regulation on Tuesday night to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
“Obviously, when you score a game-winner it’s a pretty nice touch, but I’m just proud about our team effort, every single guy,” Hertl said. “It’s not always about the goals, it’s just the details. Massive blocked shots, all the little stick saves, all at this time of the year matters. After a rusty start I think we did a lot of good things.”
Colton Sissons sent a behind-the-back pass to Hertl who cut left across the slot for the winner.
“I mean, huge,” Sissons said of Hart’s save after their 5-4 win against the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on Tuesday. “He had a couple of big ones, stopped a couple breakaways after we were not doing a great job in front of him early there. He just settled back into his game, and he’s a huge part of the win as always.”
The Canes had taken a 2-0 lead in the first period on a double by Nikolaj Ehlers with just 25 seconds gone in the series, and then again at 12:08 of the first for the 2-0 advantage.
Vegas rallied back on three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead.
“I think it says a lot about the locker room we have, the leadership, the experience that everybody has been through,” Vegas forward Brett Howden said. “I think that goes a long way and I think it showed here tonight.”
Eric Robinson was credited with a deflection off the left shinguard to make it 2-1 after the first period.
Ivan Barbashev tied the game, 2-2, with only 30 seconds gone in the middle frame.
Mitch Marner then set up William Karlsson to give the Knights a 3-2 lead.
Carolina replied with a strike by Jordan Staal to get the game tied, 3-3, headed to the third.
“It’s a battle and it’s going to be a grind, and we’re expecting that,” Staal said. “It’s a tough loss for sure, but like I said, we’re going (to have) to get our game in better shape if we want to beat this team.”
The Hurricanes were scoreless in two power play chances, extending their weak special teams play this post season.
“You’ve got to execute,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “The passing, we had the looks. There it was – and then it’s in the skates. That’s really what I noticed.”
Eighty-one seconds into the third period, Howden restored the Vegas lead at 4-3 with a goal off a deflection of a pass from Shea Theodore.
Carolina responded again, this time with a goal from Shayne Gostisbehere just past the midway p[point of the third.
Frederik Andersen made 18 saves in the loss.
