Preview: SCF, Game 4 at Vegas

LAS VEGAS - The Carolina Hurricanes will try to earn another series-splitting victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

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When: Tuesday, June 9

Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC; Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports | Watch Parties

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Series: 2-1 VGK

The Series So Far...

• Game 1: Nikolaj Ehlers got the Canes off to a flying start, but Tomas Hertl's late go-ahead goal gave the Golden Knights the first win of the Final.
• Game 2: Seth Jarvis played hero in overtime to cap off a multi-goal comeback and even the series with a 4-3 victory.
• Game 3: Carolina became just the second team in Stanley Cup Final history to crawl out of a 4-0 hole, but Vegas ultimately took the contest 5-4 in double overtime.

Puzzle Pieces...

• After making an in-game switch during Game 2's comeback in Raleigh, notably switching Seth Jarvis and Jordan Martinook, the Canes rolled out their usual bread and butter combos for Game 3 warmups, keeping Jarvis with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, while Martinook flanked Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers. But when puck drop came, the change was made again and remained that way until the loss of William Carrier to injury forced a good deal of shuffling from the remaining 11 forwards.
• During Sunday's media availability, Rod Brind'Amour said he "enjoyed the flow" of the new-ish combos, and at Monday's practice, it was Martinook with Aho and Svechnikov, while Jarvis operated as a trio with Staal and Ehlers.

In Net...

• Frederik Andersen started the team's first 16 games of the postseason, but in Game 3, it was Brandon Bussi finishing out the third period and overtime after Rod Brind'Amour swapped his netminders amid a 4-0 scoreboard deficit.
• At Monday's practice, Rod Brind'Amour said a decision had been made as to who he'd be going with for tonight's contest, but he would not share. The Canes will not hold a morning skate today, so the next possible inclination would come at 5:15 ET, when the head coach takes questions from the media at T-Mobile Arena.
• Pyotr Kochetkov also remains waiting in the wings. Although he made two conditioning loan starts with Chicago (AHL) in April, following multiple lower-body surgeries this winter, his last NHL action came on Dec. 20.

On The Other Side...

• Looking to return to Raleigh one win away from a Stanley Cup, one of Vegas' calling cards for success through the first three games has been its second periods. In each contest thus far, Carolina has come out with a better start in the opening frame, only to be counterpunched during the middle 20 minutes. Outscoring their opposition 7-1 during the second period in the series, Saturday's second was the most successful one yet for John Torterella's group, scoring six times, though only four were legal. That trend isn't limited to this series alone, as the Golden Knights' +12 goal differential during second periods this postseason is eight more than any other period.
• The main catalyst of that second-period success in Game 3 was forward Mitch Marner, who completed a natural hat trick in just 6:10. Now with seven points in the series, his 28 points this postseason lead all skaters in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• In net, Carter Hart had allowed four goals just four times through the first three rounds of the playoffs. In this series, he's allowed four every game.

Injury Updates...

• Although he left Saturday's Game 3 defeat following the second period and did not return, William Carrier (upper-body) was a full participant in Monday's practice.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their WHITE uniforms for the contest. They will wear black for every home game and white for every road game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes are scheduled to fly back to Raleigh on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's Game 5.
• Next Home Game: Thursday, June 11 | SCF, Game 5 vs. Vegas | 8:00 p.m. ET | How To Watch | Tickets | Parking