Golden Knights HC John Tortorella gives Game 1 props to Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson

The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t put on quite as complete a performance as they did in the Western Conference Finals, but they still did just enough to steal Game 1 from the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Tuesday night. While the Knights’ defense starred throughout the playoff so far, it was their offense that got the job done on the road in Game 1.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t defensive standouts for Vegas in this game. While the top D-pair of Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore will get a lot of the love after racking up three points each, the second pair of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson also starred on defense.

After the game, head coach John Tortorella talked about that pair and how they impact the game together.

“Well, they know one another. They played with one another quite a while in Calgary,” Tortorella said. “I just think they read off of one another. I think at that position, the toughest position to play, to feel comfortable with your partner helps things. Just having that type of awareness. They’ve played so many minutes together. So it’s a very important pair. Killing penalties, they play together on the power play, when our power play’s are at certain spots in it, and play a lot of big minutes. So they have been very good, and they’re going to have to be better as we enter into the finals here.”

Andersson and Hanifin didn’t finish Game 1 with numbers that will stick out in the box score. Neither recorded a point, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t impactful. Both logged over 21 minutes of ice time, and the Knights were even with Hanifin on the ice and plus-one when Andersson was out there, so their positive impact in a high-scoring Game 1 was clear.

The Hurricanes are sure to come roaring back with desperation after dropping the series opener in front of their home crowd. As a result, Hanifin and Andersson are going to have to continue playing well together for the Knights to get three more wins and secure the Stanley Cup.

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