NHL PLAYOFFS: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT HURRICANES RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — The Carolina Hurricanes, who posted the NHL’s best regular-season record at 65-30, host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday at Lenovo Center in Game 1 of their best-of-7 Stanley Cup playoff series. The Golden Knights (51-47) enter as the lower seed but carrying significant momentum after sweeping the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Vegas goaltender \ has been the postseason’s MVP, posting a 6-1 record with 33 saves on 38 shots in the series-clinching 2-1 win on May 26. Over his past five starts, he has a 1.20 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage, backstopping the Golden Knights to four consecutive wins against Anaheim and Colorado. Vegas opened the scoring in two of those three wins against the Avalanche, including forward Mark Stone’s goal in the series clincher. Cole Smith also scored in that game. The Hurricanes, winners of the Metropolitan Division, swept the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. Center Logan Stankoven has been a catalyst, notching one goal and two assists in the series-clinching 6-1 win on May 29. He also scored the winner in Game 1 against Montreal. Carolina’s Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake each had a goal and two assists in the series finale. The teams split their regular-season series, each winning at home. The Golden Knights took a 4-1 decision in Las Vegas on Oct. 20, and the Hurricanes answered with a 6-3 win in Raleigh on Oct. 28. However, Carolina has not lost a home playoff game since last May and boasts the top power play in the postseason. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET.