Carolina Hurricanes even up Stanley Cup Finals against Vegas

For the Hurricanes, 20 years after their first title, it is about the second Stanley Cup triumph in their history. Both teams are thus battling for their respective second championship.

The game began optimally for the visitors from Carolina: Logan Stankoven gave the Hurricanes the lead after just 1:06 minutes. Just a few minutes later, Jackson Blake extended the lead to 2-0 from the visitors' perspective in the fourth minute.

In the first period, the matchup offered, as has the entire series, a high entertainment value. Carolina led by 2-0 after barely four minutes and initially had the game clearly under control.

Contested goal: McNabb's goal doesn't count

Mark Stone cut the lead for the Golden Knights in the eighth minute, but Jordan Staal restored the previous margin with a wrist shot on the power play in the 13th minute. The Hurricanes captain scored to make it 3-1 for Carolina.

A goal by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, which would have made it 2:3, was not allowed. The puck had crossed the goal line only fractions of a second after the period-ending buzzer.

The defenseman was once again playing with a cage over his face, after he had taken a puck to the face in the first matchup and had to be stitched up numerous times. The fact that his supposed equalizer did not count sparked additional debate.

After the first period, everything pointed to a clear win for the visitors. The middle period, however, brought a turnaround in favor of the hosts, who made the game more open.

Middle Period: Vegas fights back

William Karlsson cut the lead to 2:3 in the 24th minute, and Brett Howden tied it with his 14th playoff goal of the year. Vegas had taken control of the game after the 1-3 deficit and had temporarily equalized at 3-3.

The visitors ultimately made the difference. In the 47th minute, Jordan Staal, the Canadian captain of the Hurricanes, scored the decisive 4-3. He scored with a backhand shot while falling, celebrating his second goal of the game.

Match-winner Staal and the family story

Staal is the first player since Mike Bossy to have scored at least one goal in each of the first four games of an NHL Final series. A special note is added to his performance by the family story: His brother Eric had already won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The final decision was provided by a goal into the empty net 55 seconds before the end, as the hosts played without a goaltender while trying to force the equalizer. The Dane Nikolaj Ehlers, who had previously recorded two assists, scored into the empty net in the 60th minute to make it 5-3.

In goal for the Hurricanes was Brandon Bussi, who was given the nod over Frederik Andersen. After the game, he described the matchup with a view to the entire series. 'Hektisch wie die ganze Serie. Er ist ein großartiger Spieler und hat sich belohnt', said Bussi about Jordan Staal's decisive goal.

Bussi in goal and the duel with Andersen

The two finalists have always alternated winning and losing. After four matchups between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL Final series (best of seven) stands at 2-2. The battle for the coveted Stanley Cup this season could not be more thrilling.

Before the fifth matchup on Friday morning (CEST), everything is once again wide open. On Friday morning, the next meeting between the teams takes place, this time in Raleigh, North Carolina, the home of the Hurricanes.

Outlook: Game five in Raleigh

The Vegas Golden Knights most recently won the Stanley Cup in 2023. Given the closeness of the series and the home advantage for Carolina in game five, a preliminary decision is still not in sight.

Should game five go to the Hurricanes, they could earn a match point in game six in Las Vegas. Should Vegas, on the other hand, win, the sixth game in Carolina would decide the title.