This Stanley Cup Final has provided everything we could've ever hoped for, except for an easy ride to winning the Stanley Cup for the Carolina Hurricanes. It has been an incredibly even series to this point, and the Canes now own home ice once again. They earned the split in Vegas after winning on Tuesday night, turning the Cup Final into a best-of-three
Game 4: The Canes got off to a fast start. Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake scored in the first four minutes. Mark Stone cut into the lead with a breakaway goal, but Jordan Staal got it back on the power play. William Karlsson and Brett Howden tied the game in the second. Staal added another from this stomach early in the third, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored into the empty net in a 5-3 Carolina win.
On the Other Side: Vegas Golden Knights
We expected a series between two very solid defensive teams. Instead, we've gotten four barn burners. Across four games, we've seen nine, seven, nine, and eight goals scored in each contest. Both teams have scored at least three goals in all four. Carter Hart earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first goalie in Cup Final history to allow four or more goals in the first four games.
Jack Eichel continues to be snake-bitten for goals. He has just two this postseason, and it's certainly not for a lack of chances. In the third period of Game 4, Eichel hit the crossbar on the power play, was robbed by Bussi's left pad, and missed the net with the goalie pulled. It's also worth noting that he had a goal taken away due to goalie interference in Game 3. It just feels like he's due to get one soon.
What to Watch in Game 5
The most important game of the season: Even though this is the fifth game of the series, this Stanley Cup Final is right back to square one. The score might as well be 0-0. There's no reason to look at anything beyond the game in front of them. You can't win the Stanley Cup without winning the third game first. Just take it one day at a time.
The Hurricanes should feel like the momentum is on their side. They played their best defensive game of the series in Game 4, though it was still a deeply flawed effort. Their start was much better, and they refused to bend to Vegas' late-game pressure in the offensive zone. The Canes still have a decision to make in the net, but you have to feel a little confident with either netminder at this point.
Carolina in the second period vs. Vegas in the third period: I touched on this after Game 4, so I'm interested to see which team can buck their bad trend first. The Canes have looked like a completely different team during the middle frame in all four games of the series, and the 9-1 Vegas edge in scoring accurately portrays that. Over the last two games, Vegas has outscored them 6-0.
The difference is that the Hurricanes have flipped the script during the third period. While Vegas held a 2-1 edge during their Game 1 win, the Canes have owned the third period in the last three contests, scoring nine times. Games 2 and 3 featured large comebacks, while the Canes shut out Vegas in the third on Tuesday. It feels like whichever team rectifies its issues will be in a good spot tonight.
