Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore made a mark in Tuesday's 5-4 Game 1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes with a goal and two assists. Vegas' first defensive pairing of Theodore and Brayden McNabb played a major role in the contest, becoming the first set of defensemen from the same team to each record three points in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Theodore has heated up as the postseason nears its conclusion, putting together a three-game point streak. Throughout the playoffs, he has been a steady offensive contributor, logging five goals and nine assists in 17 games.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers made a terrific start to the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring two goals in a 5-4 loss on Tuesday night. With just 25 seconds played, Ehlers scored the third-fastest goal to open the Stanley Cup Finals, and he put Carolina two goals up at the 12:08 mark in the first period. Ehlers became the first player in 37 years to score two first-period goals in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He lit the lamp with both of his attempts on net, giving him three multi-point performances in five games. Sebastian Aho's line remained quiet in Game 1 against Vegas, putting additional responsibility on players like Ehlers. The Danish veteran ranks second on his team with six goals and has amassed 11 points in 13 postseason games.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield had two assists in Tuesday's 5-4 Game 1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 30-year-old showcased his playmaking twice early in the game, helping Nikolaj Ehlers grab a pair of goals within the first 12:08 of action. Previously, only nine rearguards in NHL history had tallied multiple assists in the opening period of a Stanley Cup Finals. While Chatfield has occasionally chipped in offensively, he does most of his work in the defensive zone. With 14 games played in the 2026 postseason, Chatfield has registered seven points (one goal, six assists), 24 SOG, 22 blocks, and 10 hits.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb had a special outing in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, finishing a 5-4 victory with three assists. He became only the seventh defenseman in NHL history to open the Finals with a three-assist effort. McNabb's big performance came out of nowhere, as the 35-year-old isn't known for his offensive ability. In 63 regular-season games, he posted 12 points (five goals, seven assists). McNabb had three points in 14 playoff games before snagging four points across the past two games. Given that McNabb has had a three-game postseason point streak only once in his 14 NHL seasons, fantasy managers shouldn't count on his offensive surge lasting.