Lead
Carolina won a wild Game 4 in Las Vegas, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Tuesday to knot the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2. Captain Jordan Staal scored twice, including a scrambling, go-ahead goal early in the third period, and rookie starter Brandon Bussi made 18 saves on 21 shots. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-netter to seal the win, while Vegas rallied briefly in the second before Carolina reclaimed control. The result sends the series back to Raleigh for a decisive Game 5 on Thursday.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Carolina Hurricanes 5, Vegas Golden Knights 3; series now tied 2-2 after four games.
- Jordan Staal scored two goals, including the go-ahead tally at 6:32 of the third period; he has scored in each of the first four Final games.
- Brandon Bussi, making his first career playoff start in a Stanley Cup Final, stopped 18 of 21 shots and was credited with the win.
- Vegas rallied in the second period with goals from William Karlsson and Brett Howden; Howden’s 14th postseason goal tied him for the league lead in playoffs.
- Carolina scored four goals from the low slot and controlled high-danger chances around the crease, exploiting a rare breakdown in Vegas’ low-slot defense.
- Logan Stankoven opened the scoring 66 seconds in for his 11th playoff goal, one shy of coach Rod Brind’Amour’s franchise postseason mark from 2006.
- For the first time in Final history, four games in this series have featured a team erasing a multi-goal deficit to tie the score.
Background
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has been unusually volatile: both teams have staged multiple multi-goal comebacks and several goals have been overturned after review. Entering Game 4 the series stood 2-1 for Vegas, with momentum swinging between tight defensive stands and sudden scoring flurries. Carolina’s Blue Jackets-era roots and recent roster construction prioritize a heavy low-slot presence, a strategy that has repeatedly tested Vegas’ traditionally stingy interior defense.
Vegas, built around transition offense and a structured low slot, has outscored Carolina 9-1 in the series’ second periods, a trend that underscored the Golden Knights’ ability to seize midgame control. Carolina countered with depth scoring from its second line and veteran leadership up front, notably from Staal, whose role has widened from defensive anchor to timely goal scorer. Goaltending choices have also become a subplot: Frederik Andersen had started most postseason minutes for Carolina before being rested for Game 4 in favor of Brandon Bussi.
Main Event
Carolina struck early. Logan Stankoven collected a puck that bounced off the end boards and backhanded it past Carter Hart 66 seconds into the game, and Jackson Blake followed 2:22 later on a backdoor one-timer from Taylor Hall, giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 cushion. Vegas cut the lead to 2-1 when Mark Stone scored on the Knights’ second shot, but Staal converted a power-play rebound later in the period to restore a two-goal margin.
The second period belonged to Vegas as William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored on two of six shots to level the game at 3-3. Howden’s marker, his 14th of the postseason, tied him for the playoff lead and underscored Vegas’ ability to produce timely scoring from its depth players. Carolina’s second period suffered from a turnover by Seth Jarvis and defensive miscues that allowed the Golden Knights to generate high-danger looks.
Early in the third, at 6:32, Staal battled in the low slot, lost his footing but flicked a backhand shot that slipped past Hart for the go-ahead goal. The arena fell silent until the puck was confirmed across the line, and Staal finished the play prone on the ice before rising to help close out the game. Carolina held on down the stretch, a combination of tight net-front play and Bussi’s late saves, and Ehlers added a 200-foot empty-netter to finalize the score.
Analysis & Implications
Staal’s scoring streak has become a defining feature of the series; he is the first NHL captain to score in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. That consistency from a 37-year-old veteran changes how opponents must allocate defensive resources—Carolina’s success at the net front forces Vegas to make more risky plays, which can open space for other Hurricane scorers.
Bussi’s emergence complicates Carolina’s goaltending decisions. He became the third goalie since the 1967–68 expansion to make his first playoff start in a Stanley Cup Final and the first to win; his performance on short notice after relief duty in Game 3 gives coach Rod Brind’Amour tactical flexibility. Andersen was a healthy scratch but is not reported injured; Brind’Amour said Andersen needed rest, leaving the Game 5 starter undecided.
For Vegas, the second-period surge highlights a tactical strength but also a vulnerability: the team has repeatedly allowed low-slot penetration in this series, which contradicts their usual defensive identity. If Carolina continues to win battles around the crease, Vegas may need to adjust how it defends the slot—either by tightening gap control or by deploying more physical matchups against Carolina’s net-front presences.
Strategically, the series now becomes a best-of-three where line matchups, special teams, and goaltending choices will be magnified. Home-ice for Game 5 gives Carolina a measurable advantage—crowd energy and last line change—yet the Golden Knights have shown an ability to shift momentum quickly, making every mistake costly for either side.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Carolina (series) | Vegas (series) |
|---|---|---|
| Second-period scoring | 1 goal | 9 goals |
| Staal goals (Final) | 5 goals | — |
| Bussi (G4) | 18 saves on 21 shots | — |
The table highlights the Golden Knights’ dominance in second-period scoring (9-1) through four games, a key reason they have repeatedly erased deficits. Carolina’s concentrated scoring from the low slot in Game 4 marked a strategic correction to earlier games, where they had struggled to finish on high-danger chances.
Reactions & Quotes
Players and coaches framed the win as both a relief and a necessary momentum swing. Brind’Amour emphasized team focus and readiness for a tight series stretch with home-ice advantage returning to Raleigh.
“That’s all I’ve been focused on — we’ve just gotta win games,”
Jordan Staal, Hurricanes captain
Staal downplayed theatrics and stressed routine: put the puck in the net and prepare for the next game. Teammates praised his steadiness; Taylor Hall described Staal’s calm presence as influential in the locker room and on the ice.
“To come in and do what he did is very special,”
Jackson Blake, Hurricanes forward
Blake commended Bussi’s preparedness after his emergency insertion in the lineup; the rookie’s calm work in key moments earned visible praise from peers. Coach Rod Brind’Amour noted that the goaltending decision for Game 5 remained open, underscoring a tactical element that could shape the remainder of the series.
Unconfirmed
- Carolina’s Game 5 starting goalie has not been officially announced; coach Brind’Amour said he was undecided after Game 4.
- Any long-term effects of the several overturned goals in the series on officiating protocols or review standards have not been confirmed by the NHL.
Bottom Line
Game 4 reset this Final: Carolina’s 5-3 win ties the series and hands momentum back to a team that thrived at the net front while deploying an unexpectedly effective emergency starter in goal. Jordan Staal’s hot streak and Bussi’s composed relief work change the tactical picture heading into a critical Game 5 in Raleigh.
Vegas remains dangerous—especially in second periods—but has shown a vulnerability around its crease that Carolina exploited. With the series shifting to a best-of-three, coaching decisions on goaltending and matchup adjustments will carry outsized importance, and both rosters will face intense scrutiny over how they adapt in the next 48 hours.