Key Points
- Carolina beat Vegas 5-3 in Game 4 to even the Stanley Cup Final 2-2.
- Jordan Staal scored twice, including the third-period game-winner.
- Staal has five goals in four games, the most since Mario Lemieux in 1992.
- Brandon Bussi won his Cup Final debut as Frederik Andersen sat as a healthy scratch.
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Tuesday night to even the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece, taking back the series after Vegas had stolen Game 3 in double overtime to move ahead 2-1.
How Carolina did it
Captain Jordan Staal scored twice, including the game-winner in the third period. He has now scored in every game of this Final — five goals through four games, the most by any player in the opening four games of a Cup Final since Mario Lemieux in 1992. Vegas pushed back after falling behind, but Carolina answered in the third and closed it out.
The goalie story
The win came with an unexpected name in net. Brandon Bussi got the start over Frederik Andersen, whom coach Rod Brind'Amour made a healthy scratch to give the veteran a rest, and Bussi won his Stanley Cup Final debut, allowing three goals on 21 shots. It is a notable swing for a Carolina team that leaned on its backup in the biggest game of its season and got a win out of it.
Where it goes
The Final is now a best-of-three, with Game 5 in Raleigh. Home ice has held in this series, and Carolina just took it back. Vegas, chasing a second championship of the decade, now has to win at least once on the road to lift the Cup.
Source: Bleacher Report, NHL.com
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