Hurricanes overcome Golden Knights in Vegas, square up Stanley Cup Final series

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Jun 9, 2026

Published in Hockey

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LAS VEGAS — Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal called Game 4 a “massive game” before it even began.

Staal then went out and played a massive game himself, leading the Canes to a 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

Staal scored twice, his second goal on a beauty of a play that was equal parts hustle and determination. Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers all had goals as the Hurricanes evened the series 2-2 going back to Raleigh for Game 5 on Thursday.

And Brandon Bussi was the winning goalie. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour kept his starter a secret until the pregame warmups, but Bussi got the nod and got the job done in the biggest game of his career.

Staal’s second goal of the game was just short of a magical moment, the kind to be shown and reshown in NHL highlights.

As he was falling to the ice in the low slot, Staal stretched out his stick to somehow flick a backhander toward the net. Goalie Carter Hart, seemingly surprised Staal got off the shot, sprawled to try and make the stop but helplessly flopped to the ice as the puck fluttered past him.

Staal, face down on the ice, did a short “celly” by clenching his hands, and then popped back up.

Staal, shoving himself into consideration for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, became the first player since Mike Bossy in 1983 to score goals in four consecutive Stanley Cup Final games.

While Bussi was the starter, in an interesting twist, Andersen, who missed practice Monday, was not the backup. Pyotr Kochetkov made his first playoff appearance.

Andersen served as the emergency goaltender, and was listed as a scratch.

Brind’Amour often has noted that during the playoffs the Canes have played some strong first periods with too little to show for it — Game 3 being the most recent example.

But the Canes, with the team captain leading the way, took a 3-1 lead Tuesday after the first. Staal had the third score of that period, as well.

In the first three games of the Cup Final, the Canes allowed two, four and two shots in the first periods against the Knights. That’s called controlling your defensive zone.

The Canes came out Tuesday moving the puck crisply and quickly striking offensively. And the Logan Stankoven line was a big part of it, again.

Stankoven had Carolina on the board at 1:06 with his 11th goal of the playoffs. That’s one behind Hurricanes playoff record of 12 set by Brind’Amour when the Canes won the Cup in 2006.

Jackson Blake then made it 2-0 just after a Canes power play had expired. Taylor Hall had the setup pass, his 12th assist of the playoffs, as Blake scored his sixth.

Vegas captain Mark Stone, denied by Bussi on a short-handed chance, nudged the puck past Bussi’s left skate for the first Knights goal.

The Knights were split-second away from scoring to end the first but Brayden McNabb’s blistering shot was just after the horn — Knights fans celebrating, then quickly deflated after seeing the replay.

Vegas was the better team in the second, just as the Knights have been throughout the playoffs.

William Karlsson and then Brett Howden had goals for Vegas — Howden getting his 14th of a special playoff run for the forward who has 12 in the regular season.