Jordan Staal scored his second goal of the game at 6:32 of the third period, giving the Carolina Hurricanes the lead in a 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. The result equals the Stanley Cup Final at two games for each team.
After the game, Carolina goalkeeper Brandon Bussi described Staal’s goal to ABC as “eventful, just like the series has been.” Bussi highlighted that Staal is a player of great caliber, who leads the team daily and plays the right way, being deservedly rewarded.
Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday night in North Carolina. The Hurricanes team will have the chance to play two games at home, looking to win their first Stanley Cup in two decades, while the Golden Knights are aiming for their second title in four years.
Staal on historic Stanley Cup run
- Jordan Staal became the 4th player in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to score in each of the first 4 games of a Stanley Cup Final.
- He is the first player aged 37 or over to score goals in all of the first 4 matches of a Final.
- He is also the 1st captain to score in each of the first 4 games of a Final.
- With 5 goals in this Final, he ranks second in most goals in a single SCF by a skater aged 37 or over, behind only Brad Marchand (6 in 2025).
- He is the first player with 5 goals in the first 4 games of a Final since Mario Lemieux, who scored 5 in a 4-game sweep in 1992.
- Staal is the 4th player aged 37 or older to have a multi-goal game in the Finals.
- Furthermore, he is the 2nd oldest to score a winning goal in the third period in a Finals, surpassed only by Ray Bourque in Game 3 of 2001.
A two-goal lead disappeared in all four matches, characterizing a remarkable series where the momentum tends to change at any moment. Both teams led by that margin at least twice. Tuesday’s game was the first not to be decided by just one goal.
The combined total of 33 goals in the series is tied for the third-most in a Stanley Cup Final.
Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the Final, being the ninth overall to achieve this feat. Before him, Mike Bossy, in 1982, with the New York Islanders against the Vancouver Canucks, was the last player to score in the first four games of a Final.
For the Hurricanes, Nikolaj Ehlers contributed an empty net goal and two assists, while Jackson Blake scored a goal and an assist. Logan Stankoven also found the net.
Bussi took over in goal in place of Frederik Andersen and made 18 saves. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour informed ABC that Andersen, who did not suit up for the game, needed rest. Pyotr Kochetkov served as backup goalkeeper, with Andersen in the emergency goalkeeper role.
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“It’s something a lot of kids dream of doing when they grow up,” Bussi told ABC after the match. “I’m honored for the opportunity. It was a great effort from us tonight, and I’m excited to return to Raleigh.”
For the Golden Knights, Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored the goals. Carter Hart made 23 saves, and Karlsson also recorded an assist.
The Hurricanes outscored the Golden Knights in the period, shooting 14 to 6 against Vegas. However, the Golden Knights, according to data from Natural Stat Trick, had four high-risk chances compared to the Carolina team’s three.
The difference in the score was the fact that the Hurricanes took better advantage of their scoring opportunities.
Rod Brind’Amour had replaced Andersen with Bussi in Game 2 on Saturday, when the team trailed 4-0 after two periods. Bussi saved the first 18 shots he faced as the Hurricanes orchestrated an intense fightback. However, Bussi was unable to save the 19th shot, when Theodore deflected the puck off the table and it bounced off the goalkeeper’s skate, culminating in a victory for the Golden Knights.
