Stanley Cup Hurricanes Golden Knights Hockey

Jordan Staal scored his second goal of the game at 6:32 of the third period to put the Carolina Hurricanes ahead for good in their 5-3 victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final over the Vegas Golden Knights. The win on Tuesday night evened the series after four games. Game 5 is Thursday night at Carolina. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist, Logan Stankoven scored a goal. Brandon Bussi made 18 saves. Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored goals for the Golden Knights, and Carter Hart made 23 saves

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal chose the simple approach to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with Carolina trailing in the best-of-seven series. But, the 20-year veteran’s game-winning goal Tuesday night was anything but simple. Then again, considering how he has played against the Vegas Golden Knights in this series, perhaps it was. With the game tied at 3 in the third period, Staal’s sprawling backhand shot while in midair with 13:29 left beat Vegas’ Carter Hart and found the back of the net for his second score of the game, and it held up as the winner in the 5-3 victory. The series is tied at 2-all heading back to Carolina on Thursday.

Jordan Staal has won the Conn Smythe Trophy for leading the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. Staal was their top goal-scorer in the final against Vegas and for the entire playoff run was a shutdown center and an ace in the faceoff circle. The longest-tenured player in the organization after joining in a trade from Pittsburgh in 2012, Staal has been captain for the past seven years. He is the oldest Stanely Cup MVP at the age of 37.