The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at 2-2. Captain Jordan Staal, formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was the highlight when he scored two goals, including the winning one.
Staal opened the scoring and decided the match in the third period with an opportunistic goal. The 37-year-old veteran is enjoying his best moment in the postseason, with five goals in four games in the Final — scoring at least once in every match.
The performance goes beyond the numbers: Staal has seven goals, four assists and 11 points in 17 playoff games, with a plus-6 rating. He’s been the Hurricanes’ most consistent player in the series.
Veteran with champion pedigree
Drafted second overall by the Penguins in 2006, Staal already knows the taste of lifting the Stanley Cup. He was a champion in 2009 with Pittsburgh and now, as captain of the Hurricanes, he is looking to lead the franchise to its first title since moving to North Carolina.
His experience has made the difference in a balanced Final, especially in his ability to decide important games away from home.
Rookie in goal and round-trip series
Goalkeeper Brandon Bussi, in his first career playoff appearance, made 18 saves. On the Vegas side, Carter Hart continues to suffer, allowing four or more goals for the fourth consecutive time in the series.
With the victory, the Final returns to Raleigh with everything tied. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday (11), with the Hurricanes in charge.
What changes for teams
Staal’s performance reinforces the weight of experience in decisive moments. At 37 years old, he maintains a high physical level and reads the game, helping Carolina control the pace against the Golden Knights’ attack.
For Vegas, the immediate challenge is to neutralize the momentum of the opposing center before the home advantage is lost for good. The series is now best-of-three and completely open-ended.
