Full Game Highs: Vegas Erases Two-Goal Deficit, Takes Game 1 of SCF on Road

The Vegas Golden Knights erased a two-goal first-period deficit and defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-4, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center.Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice in the opening period to give Carolina a 2-0 lead before Shea Theodore cut the deficit in half with less than six minutes remaining in the frame. Vegas surged ahead with two goals in the first 4:35 of the second period as Ivan Barbashev tied the game 30 seconds into the period and William Karlsson gave the Golden Knights their first lead. After Jordan Staal evened the score at 3-3 late in the second, Brett Howden restored Vegas’ advantage early in the third before Shayne Gostisbehere tied it again at 4-4. Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with 3:41 remaining, finishing off a setup from Colton Sissons to secure the 5-4 victory. Theodore led the way with a goal and two assists, while Brayden McNabb recorded three assists and a game-high plus-three rating. Howden scored his NHL-leading 11th playoff goal, and Carter Hart made 23 saves to earn his seventh consecutive postseason victory. The win gave Vegas a 1-0 series lead and marked the first time in NHL history that a road team overcame a multi-goal deficit to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Jack Eichel added an assist to become the fastest American-born player in NHL history to reach 50 career playoff assists, while Mitch Marner's helper on Karlsson's goal gave him an NHL-best 22 postseason points (7G, 15A).