The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3, propelled by a two-goal performance from captain Jordan Staal, tying the series at two.
After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in Game 3, it was paramount for the Hurricanes to get off to a good start in Game 4. The second line has been the backbone of their success this postseason, and tonight was no different.
TOP NEWS
Logan Stankoven scored his league-leading fifth opening goal thanks to a fortuitous bounce off the back boards. Carter Hart failed to control the bouncing puck, something he’s struggled with throughout the playoffs.
Up to that point, Vegas had failed to challenge Brandon Bussi, who was making his first start of the postseason after finishing Game 3 in relief of Frederik Andersen. Mark Stone earned a short-handed breakaway, but Bussi stood tall on his first challenge of the night.
Jackson Blake doubled the lead only two minutes later, putting home a Taylor Hall pass shortly after the end of a failed power play. Brayden McNabb failed to clear the zone shortly before the goal, a trend that has allowed Carolina to maintain zone time on the power play.
Vegas settled down after the second goal, reverting to a more conservative play style and clogging the middle of the ice. Defense turned to offense shortly after, with Shea Theodore finding Stone for his second breakaway of the game, where he performed a nifty fake slap shot before tucking it past Bussi’s pad.
The Hurricanes’ power play continued its excellence, with Jordan Staal beating two Vegas defensemen to a rebound out front and easily beating Hart. Staal became the first player to score in the opening four games of a Stanley Cup Final since Mike Bossy in 1982.
Hart has struggled with his rebound control throughout the series, and Carolina has adjusted its offense accordingly.
Vegas controlled the second period, fueled by an early strike from William Karlsson to make it 3-2. Mitch Marner started the play with a perfect zone entry, before Rasmus Andersson found Karlsson out front.
Brett Howden tied it up with a perfectly-placed toe drag release deking past K’Andre Miller. It was Bussi’s third goal allowed on only 11 shots.
The third saw more back and forth action as each team tried to break the lead early, but it was Staal with his second of the game to regain the lead for Carolina. The goal came off yet another failed clearing attempt from the defense of Vegas.
Vegas pushed in the latter half of the period, with Jack Eichel and Marner both coming within inches of tying the game, but it was no good. Nikolaj Ehlers iced the game with an empty-net goal with under a minute to go.
Bussi came up clutch in his first start of the postseason, and has almost certainly earned the next start.
The critical Game 5 will be on Thursday in Raleigh, as both sides look to earn a 3-2 lead in the series.
