Vegas Stole Game 1 and Home Ice From Carolina

The Hurricanes hadn't hosted a Stanley Cup Final game in a long time. The building was rocking. A quick goal put Carolina ahead early, and they added another shortly after. Carolina was up 2-0 before most fans found their seats.

And Vegas walked out of Raleigh with a win and both points.

That's not just a comeback.

That's a message.

Vegas refuses to stay down

The Golden Knights have now pulled off several comeback wins this postseason and won multiple playoff games overall.

That's a franchise record. But the way they did it in Game 1 matters more than the streak. They became the first road team in NHL history to erase a multi-goal deficit and win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ever. In over a century of the league.

John Tortorella took over after a coaching change. Since then, he has led the team to a remarkable record. That's one of the most dramatic mid-season coaching turnarounds in NHL history. You don't expect that kind of swing from a guy who's been in the league forever and seen everything. But Tortorella keeps finding ways to get the most out of a room.

A key player gave Vegas their first lead early in the third period. His goal was among the top in the playoffs. Then Tomas Hertl. Who else. Buried the winner with just a few minutes left.

What Carolina wanted to prove

The Hurricanes had an impressive record through three rounds. They were strong when scoring first in these playoffs.

Then Game 1 happened and all those numbers got torched.

Here's the thing: Carolina dominated the first period.

They were fast, they were physical, they were exactly what a team playing their first Cup Final game in a long time should look like. Their goaltender made several saves. The Hurricanes had been perfect in overtime this postseason. They never even got to extra time.

The worry for Carolina isn't that they lost. It's how they lost. They had control and let it slip. That's on the veterans in that room. Key players need to be the difference-makers in moments like this.

Game 2 is where you find out who this team really is.

Tortorella's long road back

The last time Tortorella coached in the Stanley Cup Final was quite some time ago.

That's a significant gap between appearances. The only comparable mid-season change that led to a Cup Final was another coach who won it all.

The comparison writes itself. But that team was a dynasty. This Vegas team won a Cup recently with essentially the same core. They know what it takes. The question isn't whether Tortorella can coach at this level. He's already proven that. It's whether this group can sustain the urgency that makes them dangerous.

What to watch in Game 2

A critical save was made just before the winning goal.

If that puck goes in, this entire narrative is different. The goaltender hasn't been the story of these playoffs but he's been solid when it counts.

The Hurricanes need to answer the bell at home. They've lost the first game of a series before and come back — they did it in a previous playoff run. But the Golden Knights aren't that team. Vegas is faster, deeper, and now they have home-ice advantage back.

The series is far from over.

But the way Game 1 ended. A veteran team with nothing to lose stealing one on the road — tells you everything about who has the mojo right now.

NHL Game 1 Recap | ESPN Game Story | Sporting News on Tortorella