Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes live updates: Stanley Cup Final 2026 Game 2 start time, picks and predictions
A Conn Smythe Trophy is not lost in one game, but Andersen and Hart’s playoff MVP chances took a hit with equally shaky performances to start the final.
Andersen, seen as a Conn Smythe front-runner by many after three playoff rounds, gave up three goals on his first eight shots against in Game 1 and seemed to be fighting it, especially in the second period.
Andersen was also shaky in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final with Montreal before completely shutting down the Canadiens the rest of that series.
It has been an emotional past week for the veteran goalie, who is dealing with the death of his longtime agent Claude Lemieux.
The Canes goalie on agent Claude Lemieux’s death: “We go through stuff in life. Sometimes it’s impossible not to bring it into the room.”
Hart, meanwhile, gave up a goal on the opening shot of the final. But it’s Staal’s 3-3 goal 12:42 into the second period that Hart needed to have. It was a great shot by Staal from the top of the faceoff circle, but that’s a save all day long by top NHL goalies. And while it was probably distracting to see Nic Dowd fall to block the shot just as Gostisbehere shot it, the 4-4 goal that beat Hart short side wasn’t pretty, either.
Hart was dominant in the Western Conference final, very much outplaying his Avalanche goalie counterparts, and that was a major reason for the four-game sweep. But Tuesday night was not his finest.
