No lead is safe as Golden Knights’ Brett Howden ties Game 4 up 3-3 vs. Hurricanes

Once again, the 2026 Stanley Cup Final has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for the players, fans, and all who are watching. During Tuesday’s Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena, the thrilling trend of multiple blown leads has continued.

It was the Carolina Hurricanes who raced out of the gate with two quick goals in the opening four minutes of play, thanks to Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, only to have Vegas captain Mark Stone return fire with a breakaway goal. However, Carolina captain Jordan Staal stayed hot, restoring his club’s two-goal lead.

The Golden Knights responded in the second period with a goal from William Karlsson, which was then followed by a beautiful toe-drag goal from forward Brett Howden, who has been the hottest goal scorer so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Vegas.

Howden’s goal was his 14th of the postseason, which is now officially a franchise record for most goals scored in the playoffs, besting the previous mark set by 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault; he scored 13 goals during the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup. Additionally, Karlsson had 11 during that postseason run.

Right now, Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner still has the lead in total playoff scoring and would likely be named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP if Vegas ultimately prevails over the Hurricanes. But thanks to the ridiculous goal-scoring stretch that Howden has been on, especially after only scoring 12 goals in the regular season, the award could be his.

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