Hurricanes even Stanley Cup Final with dominant fourth-quarter shift
Carolina defeats Vegas 5-3 to level series at 2-2, setting up decisive Game 5 in Raleigh.
The Carolina Hurricanes have levelled the Stanley Cup Final series at 2-2 following a 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. The result ends a tightly contested first half of the championship, where momentum shifted rapidly and every game was decided by a single-goal margin until this contest.
Jordan Staal secured the decisive moment with a second goal of the match at 6:32 of the third period. Stretching out on his stomach to score, Staal extended his remarkable scoring streak, becoming the first player in 44 years to record at least one goal in each of the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final. He joins Mike Bossy, who achieved the feat in 1982, as the only players in NHL history to do so.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s strategic decision to start backup goalkeeper Brandon Bussi in place of Frederik Andersen proved pivotal. Bussi, who had previously sparked a rally in Game 2, made 18 saves in this contest. Brind’Amour confirmed that Andersen, who did not dress for the game, required rest, with Pyotr Kochetkov serving as the backup and Andersen listed as the emergency goaltender.
Carolina’s offensive output was broad-based, with Nikolaj Ehlers contributing an empty-net goal and two assists, while Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven also found the back of the net. The Hurricanes dominated the third period, outshooting Vegas 14-6, though the Golden Knights maintained a slight edge in high-danger chances. Mark Stone, William Karlsson, and Brett Howden scored for Vegas, with Carter Hart making 23 saves.
The series has seen a combined 33 goals, tying for the third-highest total in Stanley Cup Final history. With the series tied, Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday night in Carolina, giving the Hurricanes the opportunity to secure their first championship in two decades on home ice.
