In what could be considered a must-win game for the Carolina Hurricanes, heroes, new and old, emerged.
Brandon Bussi, making his first career playoff start in Game 4, turned away 18 of 21 shots to earn the victory. He is the third goalie in the expansion era to make his first career playoff start in the Stanley Cup Final, joining Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jussi Markkanen. Bussi joined a more exclusive club by becoming the third goalie in NHL history to win that first career playoff start in a Stanley Cup Final.
Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake, and Taylor Hall each returned to the scoresheet and were the best line on the ice. Stankoven and Blake’s goals during the first 3:28 minutes of the game were the Hurricanes’ second-fastest two goals to start a playoff game.
But once again, Jordan Staal was the center of this epic chapter of Hurricanes and hockey history.
The Captain scored twice, including the eventual game-winner with 13:28 to play in regulation. Carolina’s 5-3 victory over Vegas evens the series at two games apiece and returns home-ice advantage to the Canes.
Staal’s first period goal was another history-maker. He is the first player in 44 years, and the fourth player in the expansion era, to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. Staal’s four-game goal streak is tied for the second-longest in franchise history, trailing Stankoven’s record-setting five-game goal streak earlier in the playoffs.
Staal’s first of the game came on the power play. Much has been said about the size of the Golden Knights, and Staal winning the battle out front demonstrates just how important it is that the big man is on the man advantage. The Canes now have power play goals in three straight games.
True to the pattern of this series, Vegas roared back in the second period, scoring twice to knot the game at 3-3 heading into the third. But for the third straight game, Carolina found another gear after the second intermission.
The decisive sequence came with less than seven minutes in the third. After Vegas turned the puck over on a botched breakout, Seth Jarvis was alone in the slot, had a backhander stopped by Carter Hart, and battled to retrieve his own rebound behind the net versus four Golden Knights. Jarvis worked the puck free to Nikolaj Ehlers, who poked it across the slot to a falling Staal. With a desperate reach, the Captain lifted the puck over Hart’s glove and into the net for what would be the eventual game-winner.
This goal will be in the Carolina highlight reel from now until eternity. Staal’s determination and desperation epitomized the Canes’ effort for most of the game.
Of course, Staal was not just a factor on the scoresheet. The Hurricanes dominated in the faceoff circle, holding a 57-43 advantage over the Golden Knights. Staal won 12 of 16 faceoffs, with his 75 percent win rate leading all centers in the game.
Staal was matched up against Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel for much of the game, and each failed to tally a point.
Perhaps Staal’s only blemish was in the process of a line change during Vegas’s first goal. The Golden Knights did not convert on any of their three power plays, of which Staal was on the kill for each.
Here’s what Sebastian Aho said about Staal on Wednesday morning before departing Las Vegas. Via NHL.com:
In our room, he’s always had his spotlight. He does so much for us. We all know in our room how big of a player he is for us. He’s taken a lot of draws, he’s killing all the penalties, he’s very hard to play against. It’s just his presence; he’s obviously our leader, our captain, and he’s so big. Obviously, now he gets more attention probably from [the media], but like I said, he does so much for us, and he has always gotten that attention from us.
The Hurricanes flew back to Raleigh on Wednesday to prepare for Game 5, set for Thursday, June 11, at 8:00 p.m. at the Lenovo Center.
