RALEIGH, N.C. — It took just one shot and 25 seconds worth of game action for the Vegas Golden Knights to find themselves in a hole in the Stanley Cup Final.
And by midway through the opening period, they were down two goals against the fast-skating Carolina Hurricanes, who were riding the energy from a buzzing home crowd at Lenovo Arena.
No matter. And no panic. Not with these tested Golden Knights.
Tomas Hertl took a backhand pass from Colton Sissons and beat Frederik Andersen from the slot with 3:24 left in the third period, lifting the Western Conference champions past Eastern Conference champ Carolina, 5-4, in Tuesday night’s opener of the Stanley Cup Final.
“I’ve said it all through the playoffs: It’s a find-a-way league,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “We found a way tonight.”