RALEIGH, N.C. — For the first time since returning to the NHL, Carter Hart heard it from the opposing fans.
Carolina Hurricanes supporters spent parts of the game trying to rattle the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final for his involvement in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal.
Both teams introduced their starting lineups before Game 1. Hart was the last to be named as the starting goalie, and was met with a loud chorus of boos.
Hart allowed four goals in a game for the first time since Game 4 of the second round against Anaheim.
With each goal, fans tried to rattle him. A “No means no” chant echoed loud enough that it came through the ESPN broadcast.
Another contingent of fans chanted “Respect women” during the second period.
Hart was one of five players acquitted last summer after being charged with sexual assault in January 2024. The charges stemmed from an alleged incident with a woman during Team Canada’s celebration of their World Juniors championship.
Hart was the only one to sign with an NHL team. Defenseman Cal Foote, another one of the players acquitted, signed an American Hockey League deal with the Hurricanes in December.
Hart and the Knights overcame a slow start to rally in a 5-4 win to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is at Lenovo Center on Thursday.
‘Sick pass’
Colton Sissons is getting all the brownie points for his game-winning assist on Tuesday.
Find a superlative, and the Knights have used that on their center.
“Sick pass,” defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “That was my first thought.”
“That was nice,” center Nic Dowd said. “Probably one of the nicer passes I’ve seen in a long time.”
TOMAS HERTL. COLTON SISSONS.
GAME. WINNING. GOAL. pic.twitter.com/ZVccjAQpoY
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 3, 2026
Sissons’ backhand pass set up Tomas Hertl’s game-winning goal with 3:24 remaining. The no-look pass completed a give-and-go with Hertl, who notched his second game-winning goal in three games.
Sissons hasn’t shown off his playmaking skills much this year, but playing on a line with Hertl and captain Mark Stone will give you that kind of opportunity.
Sissons, 32, has 32 points in 88 career playoff games.
“We watched it obviously after the game when you see the highlights of the game,” Andersson said. “It’s a nasty pass.”
Shoes up for grabs
The NHL is partnering with custom shoe designer @thesurgeon to give fans an opportunity to win custom NHL sneakers.
The “NHL Built for Cup Chasers Sweepstakes” gives fans a chance to win an ultra-limited set of shoes inspired by the Stanley Cup. They were constructed by NOBULL’s signature training shoe.
Fans can enter once per day at NHL.com/CupChasesrs. The contest will end on June 21.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
