Hurricanes Steal Game 4 Vs. Golden Knights 5-3 To Tie Stanley Cup Final

Hurricanes steal Game 4 vs. Golden Knights 5-3 to tie Stanley Cup Final originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will go to at least Game 6.

The Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 Tuesday night in Game 4 to edge the final series 2-2.

Carolina started hot with a 3-1 goal advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Two of those goals came within the opening four minutes that set the tone for the rest of the way.

But this has been a series of the comeback, so it wasn’t surprising that two Vegas goals knotted up the score in the second period. William Karlsson scored the first of the period before Brett Howden drilled one from a deep angle for the equalizer late on.

Vegas couldn’t turn it around fully, however.

In the third period, Vegas made the most costly mistake of the game that got punished. A poor clearance in their own defensive area led to some opportune shots for Carolina.

Eventually it was Jordan Staal, a goalscorer from the first period, who capitalized with an angled diving effort. It could go on to be a memorable frame if Carolina gets it over the line for just the second time in franchise history (2005-06).

The goal would prove to be the winner as Vegas had to chase the action the rest of the way. Eventually, Nikolaj Ehlers added Carolina’s fifth in the closing minutes as Vegas had an empty net.

It’s been an incredibly even series so far with little margin for error on either side.

Both teams have exchanged wins since Vegas stole Game 1 on the road 5-4. Carolina responded with a 4-3 Game 2 win before the Golden Knights once again claimed a 5-4 final scoreline in Game 3. Game 4 was about to follow the one-score difference before Ehlers’ open-net finish.

If the victor trends are anything to go by, another tight game is in store for Thursday with Vegas in line for the win pattern. But Carolina is back on home ice and will be looking to defend it as the victor will be just one win away from hoisting the main prize.