Golden Knights Top Panthers, 5-2, to Take 1-0 Lead in Stanley Cup Final

The Vegas Golden Knights skated to a 5-2 win in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas leads the series, 1-0.

HOW IT WENT DOWN
Eric Staal's shorthanded goal was the first of the Stanley Cup Final as he gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Late in the period, Jonathan Marchessault buried a power-play goal to tie the game at 1-1. Vegas took the lead in the second period as Shea Theodore danced into the slot and wired a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky to make it a 2-1 game. With just 10 seconds left in the middle frame, Anthony Duclair snuck a shot through traffic to send the teams into the final stanza level at 2-2. Vegas took over in the third period as Zach Whitecloud fired a shot past Bobrovsky to rebuild the lead for the home team. Mark Stone added an insurance goal with less than seven minutes to go before Reilly Smith's empty-net tally sealed the 5-2 win in Game 1 for the Golden Knights.

TOP PERFORMERS
Adin Hill: Hill had 33-saves to give the Golden Knights the lead in the series.

Zach Whitecloud: Whitecloud's first Stanley Cup Final goal was the game-winner.

Shea Theodore: Theodore posted two points (1G, 1A) in the win.

Jonathan Marchessault: Marchessault tied William Karlsson for the team lead in postseason goals with his 10th of the playoffs.

Jack Eichel:Eichel added to his team lead in playoff scoring as his two assists give him 20 points (6G, 14A) in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

BECAUSE VGK WON…
When the Golden Knights win, you win! Get 31% off menu priced pizzas at Pizza Hut the day after every win using code VGKWINS on PizzaHut.com.

STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE
Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Panthers 2
Game 2: Mon., June 5: Panthers at Golden Knights, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
Game 3: Thu., June 8: Golden Knights at Panthers, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
Game 4: Sat., June 10: Golden Knights at Panthers, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
Game 5: \Tue., June 13: Panthers at Golden Knights, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
Game 6: \Fri., June 16: Golden Knights at Panthers, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
Game 7: \Mon., June 19: Panthers at Golden Knights, 5 p.m. PT (TNT, TBS, truTV)
* = If necessary*

ATTENDANCE:18,432

LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Knights and Panthers gear up for Game 2 on Monday at 5 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. Catch the action on TNT, FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340 and Deportes Vegas 1460.