For the first time in 20 years, there is Stanley Cup Final hockey in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes have made it over the hump for the first time in two decades. Standing between them and their ultimate goal is the Vegas Golden Knights. Two very skilled teams began their battle, knowing that this is one smaller battle in a much larger war for the Stanley Cup.
With 12 wins in 13 games, including their last four, the Hurricanes kept everything the same to open the series. Frederik Andersen was back between the pipes for the 14th time. Vegas welcomed Jeremy Lauzon back to the lineup for the first time since the end of its first-round series with Utah. Carter Hart took the net for the Golden Knights.
Playing in his first Cup Final game, Nikolaj Ehlers came ready to play. Just 25 seconds in, he finished a 2-on-1 under Hart's glove to immediately get the Canes rolling. A little past the midway point, Ehlers added another. This time, a turnover by Jack Eichel allowed Jalen Chatfield to spring Ehlers for a breakaway finish. Shea Theodore scored 80 seconds later to cut the Canes' lead in half after 20.
Vegas came out with a ton of energy to start the second period. Ivan Barbashev buried a shot in the slot 30 seconds into the period, and William Karlsson put it home from the top of the crease to give Vegas the lead less than 4:30 in. The Canes were stuck until they forced a turnover, leading to Jordan Staal snapping one home. After two, the teams were deadlocked at three.
The Canes finished a kill to open the third, but their inability to get the puck out resulted in Brett Howden giving Vegas the lead once more. Shayne Gostisbehere extended his point streak to four games by snapping a loose puck past Hart, tying the game midway through the third. Tomas Hertl scored the winner, completing a passing play with Colton Sissons to stun the Canes, 5-4, in Game 1.
It was a rough night for the Hurricanes' top and fourth lines
In a series that will feature a ton of star power, the Canes need their top line to find that magic that has been sorely lacking this postseason. Tonight was not a good start. The top trio combined for just five shots, and while they had a few chances sprinkled throughout the night, they failed to rise to the moment. There's still time for them, but they need to hurry up and find something.
It was also a rough showing for the fourth line, which was the team's best during the conference finals. Mark Jankowski took two penalties. Eric Robinson had Vegas' first goal go off his leg. It didn't feel like they were the difference makers that we saw in the last round. I'm not expecting their offensive output to carry over, though they need to be just as impactful if they aren't scoring.
This series is will be tight and will come down to which goalie makes stops
Nine goals in the opening game wasn't quite what I was expecting from these two teams. This was only the second time that the Hurricanes have allowed more than three goals in a game during these playoffs. They also happen to be the only two games that the Canes have lost. Frederik Andersen didn't have his sharpest stuff, though the team in front of him didn't help in that regard.
The first game goes to Carter Hart, who was one stop better than Andersen. The biggest save of the game was his glove stop on Seth Jarvis right before Vegas scored the winning goal. That being said, it was by no means a clean night for him either. The Canes beat him four times, picking on him in more than one spot. With it being a game of inches, one inch the other way, and the series is 1-0 Carolina.
Additional Thoughts
We've talked about the negatives, so let's harp on some of the positives. The Staal line had a great opening game. They scored three of the team's four goals, getting the building rocking. The defense also had a solid night in the offensive zone, combining for a goal and four assists, two of which came from Jalen Chatfield.
I also thought the penalty kill was very good tonight. They were a perfect 3-for-3 against a strong Golden Knights power play. They got a little help from the iron, with Jack Eichel hitting it twice. On the flip side, the power play continues to be an Achilles' heel. They generated very little pressure against Vegas' kill, preventing them from swinging momentum back in their favor.
It's not an ideal way for the Hurricanes to open the series. I'd say that Vegas' maturity and experience in the Stanley Cup Final shone through in Game 1. They got down early, but they settled into their game, powering into the lead early in the second. Every time the Canes took a swing, they swung right back. They're ahead in the series, though there's still a long way to go.
Up Next: The Canes will try to even the series on Thursday night when Game 2 drops the puck at the Lenovo Center. Regardless of the result, the teams will move to Vegas for the next two. Game 3 is on Saturday night before they get an extra day between games, pushing Game 4 to next Tuesday night. If the Canes manage a win at any point, they'll make sure Game 5 happens in Raleigh next Thursday.
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