Zach Whitecloud scored the first of three third-period goals for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers in game one of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Las Vegas.

Whitecloud muscled a long-range shot past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at 6:59 of the third period to put Vegas ahead 3-2.

Captain Mark Stone added an insurance goal that stood up after a review for a high stick.

Right wing Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Shea Theodore and left wing Reilly Smith also scored for the Knights.

Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill made 31 saves – including a spectacular full-stretch stick save of a shot from Nick Cousins early in the second period that kept the score level at 1-1.

Theodore put Vegas up 2-1 with a wrist shot, but with seconds left in the second period Florida's Anthony Duclair tied it up at 2-2.

The Knights will try to double their advantage when they host game two on Monday.

Each team is seeking a first Stanley Cup crown, and both are in the final for the second time.

The Panthers were swept by Colorado in 1996 and the Golden Knights fell to Washington in their 2018 inaugural campaign. (AFP)