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Golden Knights most to blame for Stanley Cup Final Game 4 loss to Hurricanes
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- Golden Knights most to blame for Stanley Cup Final Game 4 loss to Hurricanes
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The Carolina Hurricanes were a desperate team as they prepared for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights , and it was clear that head coach Rod Brind'Amour had his team ready to play. The Hurricanes needed a win to square the series, and they came out on fire.
Logan Stankoven took advantage of a severe misplay by Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart and he put the puck in the net at the 1:06 mark of the first period. Hart had a chance to bat the puck out of danger when it bounced off the backboards but Stankoven got the puck on his backhand and shoveled it past the Vegas goaltender.
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A little over two minutes later Jackson Blake fired a wrist shot past Hart and the Hurricanes had a 2-0 lead before the Vegas fans had settled into their seats at The Fortress. The early lead gave the Hurricanes a chance to breathe a bit more easily, but a multi-goal lead in this series usually means trouble for the team with the advantage.
That was once again the case here as Mark Stone scored on a breakaway for the Golden Knights, beating first-time playoff starter Brandon Bussi with a fake slap shot and then outstretching him before he skillfully slid the puck into the net.
But Jordan Staal, the hero of this series through the first four games, extended the Carolina lead to 3-1 when he outbattled the Vegas defense and scored on a net-front, power play scramble because he was strong enough to take the hit and power the puck by Hart.
That goal gave Staal goals in each of the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final, allowing him to join Hall of Famer Mike Bossy as the only other player to accomplish that achievement.
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Second period belonged to the Golden Knights, but Staal was the difference maker
While the Hurricanes had the advantage after the first period, there was nothing in this series that would have led to the belief that the Golden Knights would retreat and accept their fate. They have owned the second period in this series, and they got a pair of goals from William Karlsson and playoff star Brett Howden to tie the game.
Karlsson scored his goal on a nasty snap shot after taking a pass from Conn Smythe favorite Mitch Marner early in the period. The Golden Knights were breathing fire the rest of the period and Howden delivered the tying goal on a sharp wrister over Bussi's glove hand.
That set up the dramatic third period and it was Staal who once again came through for the Hurricanes. He took advantage of a significant turnover by Shea Theodore and Staal eventually scored the winner by getting good wood on the puck even though he was flat on his belly. Hart was trying to get from one side of the net to the other and he couldn't reach it as the puck was sightly out of his reach.
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Theodore went from hero to old-school goat in less than one game. He was credited with the fluky winning goal in double overtime in Game 3, but he was unable to clear the puck from behind his own net and gave the Hurricanes an opportunity that they were able to take advantage of and put the Golden Knights on their heels.
Golden Knights were desperate in the third period, but couldn't beat Bussi
Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Golden Knights had multiple chances in the third period to either take the lead or tie the score. Prior to Staal's go-ahead goal at the 6:32 mark, Vegas had a power play opportunity. Jack Eichel had a brilliant chance when he got the puck in the left face-off circle and fired a cracking slap shot that rang off the cross bar.
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Bussi could barely see the shot because Eichel had so much velocity on the shot and got rid of the puck so quickly, but the Vegas star got no satisfaction because the puck rebounded far away from the net.
Eichel was not through with his third-period opportunities. After Vegas head coach John Tortorella pulled Hart in the final moments, the Golden Knights had a brilliant chance to tie the score. Once again it was Eichel who had the chance after a faceoff in the Carolina zone. The puck popped up in the air and landed on the stick of the wide open Eichel.
He was 15 feet in front of Bussi and had a chance to make two moves. He had an opportunity to tie the score, but his shot went over the top of the net. The air went out of the T-Mobile Arena a few seconds later when Nikolaj Ehlers banked home an empty net goal to clinch the 5-3 Carolina victory.
The Hurricanes go home with the series tied at 2-2 and have regained home-ice advantage following their 5-3 road victory. It might been a 3-1 Vegas advantage if not for a key giveaway by Theodore and multiple missed opportunities by Eichel.
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The series resumes Thursday for the pivotal fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
Related: Golden Knights' perfect trade offer for Red Wings' Dylan Larkin after trade request
