Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final airs live from Raleigh’s Lenovo Center tonight, with puck drop set for 8 pm.
The Vegas Golden Knights head into the matchup with a 1-0 series lead after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in Game 1.
Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining after a sensational setup feed by Colton Sissons.
Both teams are expected to dress the same lineups from Game 1, with Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes looking for better execution while the Golden Knights hope to carry their momentum into and take both games on the road
“I think we’re confident because we know we can be better,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “If we had played our best game and it was that outcome, I think there would be a different feel. But it’s kind of similar to the last series.
“There’s a lot of areas we didn’t like in our game and you’re just not going to win when you’re not going to play to your abilities. And again, you’ve got to give the other team a lot of credit. They’re making you not play that way. I mean, it’s not just happening. We’re trying, but we have to be sharper in a lot of areas. And I think that’s the positive, there’s definitely room to be better.”
The game is virtually a must-win for Carolina as, per NHL.com, teams that fall behind two games to none, have almost always gone on to lose in the championship series.
In Stanley Cup Final history, teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 format have gone on to win the Stanley Cup 90.9 percent of the time (50-5), including 83.3 percent (10-2) when starting on the road.
However, when a best-of-7 Cup Final is tied 1-1, the team that begins the series at home has gone on to win the Cup 64.5 percent of the time (20-11).
Tonight’s game airs live on ABC in the United States, while Sportsnet will have the action in Canada.
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