In what was yet another thrill ride of a game so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, the Carolina Hurricanes seized victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, surviving a multi-goal blown lead when captain Jordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal in the third period en route to a 5-3 win at T-Mobile Arena.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour gave the starting responsibilities to backup Brandon Bussi, who replaced Frederik Andersen between the pipes after he allowed four goals in Game 3; he finished the game by making 18 saves on the 21 shots he faced.
When asked about a potential injury to Andersen, Brind’Amour said afterward that the Danish-born goaltender needed the full night off, and also didn’t reveal who his choice to start Game 5 back in Carolina on Thursday is.
“In conversation with our goalie coach, Andersen needed a break,” reported NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman via Xon what Brind’Amour said. “To give him the break, he needed the full night off.”
The Hurricanes took leads of 2-0 and 3-1, only to see Vegas come back to tie the score, and then come literally within an inch of taking the lead in the third period after Jack Eichel’s shot rang off the crossbar. However, Staal’s superhuman effort to backhand the puck past the glove of goaltender Carter Hart while falling from a prone position will go down in Hurricanes lore, especially if they ultimately come out on top.
The series is now tied at two games apiece, with Game 5 looming on Thursday evening; the series will shift back to Vegas for Game 6 on Saturday evening, and the Stanley Cup will be in the building for a potential presentation.
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