If you didn't watch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, you missed an absolute banger. We're talking about a Vegas Golden Knights team coming back from a 2-0 deficit and winning a bloody battle. Of course, the war still rages on. But you got your road win and have home-ice advantage for the Stanley Cup Final.
Still, that's not enough for John Tortorella, who smells blood in the water like a hungry shark. He's looking to take Game 2 from the Hurricanes and take command of the Stanley Cup Final. Everyone knows Torts to posture himself as a Napoleon Bonaparte archetype, so it makes perfect sense.
So, what better way to do that than to blitz the Hurricanes once more? The Golden Knights did that in Game 1, applying additional pressure on Carolina. In turn, it led to the series shifting in the Golden Knights' favor.
But let's dive further into this strategy and see what Vegas must specifically do. How must the Golden Knights attack the Hurricanes in Game 2? Who's the player that the Golden Knights must watch for on Thursday on the other end? Let's cook up a winning strategy, shall we?
The Vegas Golden Knights must put additional forechecking pressure on the Carolina Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen hasn't faced too much pressure during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Of his 13 playoff starts, only two have seen him face 30 or more shots. Granted, he won both games and stood on his head. However, both games went into overtime and both teams (the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers) weren't exactly threatening.
The Golden Knights are vastly different from these teams, carrying more offensive weapons and experience. That means getting more shots on goal and establishing themselves in the offensive zone. If Vegas can do this, they'll have a more convincing victory ahead.
Obviously, you want to take care of the puck in this scenario. Vegas had 18 giveaways in Game 1, including a bad turnover that led to a Jordan Staal goal. Carolina doesn't hestitate to pull the trigger when the puck presents itself. Therefore, don't turn it over.
But what about the shots on goal for the Golden Knights?
The Golden Knights have had more than 30 shots on goal five times during the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. They've won all but one game in such instances, with Game 3 against the Utah Mammoth being the exception.
Of course, the Golden Knights have done much better at finding the right opportunities to shoot the puck. Still, the premise should be to get pucks on net and pounce on any loose pucks heading your way. That way, Andersen is constantly on his toes and doesn't have a firm standing.
That's something that John Tortorella strongly believes in, especially in his forechecking style. The Golden Knights have plenty of offensive talent to make this happen, specifically in the earlier parts of the game. Thus, it's on them to blitz the Hurricanes throughout Game 2 and make them uncomfortable.
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