Carolina hasn’t lost two games in a row since mid-January and kept that streak alive with a dominant third period. Photo: Reuters
Carolina tied the game at 2-2 in wins in the fight for the second Stanley Cup
Jordan Staal scored two goals, including the decisive one, as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 of the NHL North American Grand Final. The Hurricanes tied the game at 2-2 in the hunt for the second Stanley Cup in history. The Holy Grail of hockey will be won by the team that achieves four victories.
The Hurricanes will return to Raleigh, North Carolina for Game 5 on Thursday local time, Friday ET.
Carolina hasn’t lost two games in a row since mid-January and kept that streak alive with a dominant third period.
Staal, the 37-year-old Carolina captain, put the puck past Vegas goaltender Carter Hart to give the Hurricanes a 4-3 lead with just over 13 minutes left.
“I knew I had that shot,” Staal said. “I twisted my leg, but in the end I just kind of hit the puck and saw it was going to come out. I had a great feeling. It was a huge goal.”
It was Staal’s second goal of the game and his fifth in the final.
“He’s very important to this team,” teammate Taylor Hall said. “He’s determined in one-on-ones, in five-on-five. He’s our captain, our leader, and he’s a real calming influence on all of us. He’s a calm guy. Nothing can really rattle him. His game is perfect for the playoffs.”
With the goal in the first period, Staal became the oldest player to score in the first four games of an NHL Grand Final.
He is the first player to score five goals in the first four games since 1992, when the legendary Pittsburgh hockey player Mario Lemieux accomplished the feat.
“I’m happy to contribute in this way,” Staal said. “I still have a lot of other areas where I need to contribute and play well, but when the puck goes where it needs to go, I feel good, there’s no doubt about that.”
“The form is also right at the right time. I want to continue with this and find ways to win more.”
The Vegas coaching staff expectedly called up goaltender Carter Hart in the closing minutes for an extra forward, but as always, it was a risky move, as Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of the empty space behind the goal posts to score a goal into an unguarded net for Carolina with 55 seconds left to seal the victory.
Carolina backup goalie Brandon Bussi started a playoff game for the first time in his career after goalie Frederik Andersen was benched after allowing four goals in the second period of Game 3 of the finals.
“It’s a growing up process, every kid dreams of something like that,” Bussi said. “I’m thrilled with the win and proud to be returning to Raleigh.”
Carolina took the lead on a goal by Logan Stankoven just 66 seconds into the game, and Jackson Blake took a pass from Hall and scored for a 2-0 lead 2 minutes, 22 seconds later.
Mark Stone responded for Vegas just over seven minutes into the game with a goal on the counterattack, firing past Bussi.
After Shayn Gostisbeher’s shot, Staal deflected the puck for a goal past the player for a 3-1 lead.
“We were fighting and biting,” Staal said. “We certainly hit a few obstacles, but they didn’t derail us. I’m proud of this team. It’s a big away win, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
The Golden Knights, who have been around since 2017, won their only Stanley Cup in 2023, while Carolina won in 2006.
