NHL: Golden Knights pull out high-scoring win over Canes in finals opener

The Vegas Golden Knights have already wrested away home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Final after claiming a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the series opener on Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Even so, the Golden Knights are well aware they were not at their best in the victory that kicked off the best-of-seven series.

"It's a good start," Vegas forward Tomas Hertl, who scored the game-winning goal in the third period, told Sportsnet. "We're up 1-0 and it was a great game, but we have to be ready and sometimes play smarter."

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Thursday in Raleigh.

Golden Knights Ride Win Streak to Historic Start

The Golden Knights have now won seven straight playoff games. Their latest victory came after they fell behind 2-0 early in the match. Hertl ended the back-and-forth affair when he broke a tie by finishing a give-and-go with Colton Sissons, receiving the puck in the slot and firing a top-shelf shot with just 3:24 remaining in regulation.

"We knew they were going to push in the first and we weathered the storm," said Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore, who scored once in a three-point performance. "It was good to get one late [in the first period], make it 2-1, and we really pushed in the second. And we're a great third-period team, and [I] like our game."

Vegas' Brett Howden tallied a goal and an assist, while Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson each scored. Goaltender Carter Hart made 23 saves, and Brayden McNabb posted a career playoff-high three assists.

"It's a find-a-way league. We found a way tonight," Vegas coach John Tortorella said.

Hurricanes Aim to Clean Up Costly Mistakes

Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, while Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere contributed a goal apiece for the Hurricanes, who lost for only the second time in this year's playoffs. Jalen Chatfield recorded two assists, and goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 18 shots.

"We've got to be better," said Staal, Carolina's captain. "It's a battle and it's going to be a grind, and we're expecting that. It's a tough loss, for sure, but we're going to get our game in better shape if we want to beat this team."

Historically, the club that claims the opener of the finals wins the Stanley Cup 76.4% of the time. When the visiting team prevails in Game 1, that probability drops slightly to 65.6%.

How the Game Unfolded

Ehlers opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the clash—marking the third-fastest goal to start a finals in NHL history. He then made it a 2-0 game with a breakaway tally at the 12:08 mark of the first period.

Vegas responded with a trio of unanswered goals:

Theodore put Vegas on the board 80 seconds after Ehlers' second tally, sending a long point shot that ricocheted off a defender and into the net.

Barbashev tied the contest just 30 seconds into the second period.

Karlsson gave the Golden Knights their first lead at 3-2 at the 4:35 mark of the middle period, though Staal tied the clash again eight minutes later.

From there, Vegas twice watched a lead disappear. Howden gave Vegas a 4-3 edge 81 seconds into the third period, before Gostisbehere tied the game yet again past the midway point of the final frame.

Ultimately, the hosts were unable to build on that momentum before Hertl delivered the game-winner.

"You've got to give them credit. That's a great team," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We were right there and we made a few mistakes that we've got to try to clean up and have better execution. You're not winning this thing if you have those kinds of errors and lack of execution." -Field Level Media/Reuters