Tomas Hertl’s Late Goal Seals 5-4 Victory for Golden Knights in Game 1 Against Hurricanes

RALEIGH – Tomas Hertl scored with just over three minutes remaining in regulation to lift the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final series.

Colton Sissons delivered a behind-the-back pass to Hertl, who maneuvered left across the slot to net the decisive goal.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring with two early goals in the first period, including a tally by Nikolaj Ehlers just 25 seconds into the game and a second goal at the 12:08 mark to build a 2-0 advantage.

The Knights responded with three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead. Eric Robinson’s deflection off a left shinguard cut the deficit to 2-1 after the first period.

Ivan Barbashev tied the game at 2-2 with 30 seconds elapsed in the second period, followed by Mitch Marner’s setup of William Karlsson to put Vegas ahead 3-2.

Carolina tied the game again in the third period with a goal from Jordan Staal, but Brett Howden’s deflection of a Shea Theodore pass at the 1:21 mark of the final frame restored Vegas’s lead at 4-3.

Shayne Gostisbehere added a goal for Carolina past the midway point of the third period to make it 4-4, before Hertl’s clutch strike sealed the victory.

Frederik Andersen turned aside 18 shots in the losing effort.

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