Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights, Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Live Blog

Welcome to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. 

NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price was in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Carolina's 5-3 win that evened the series at 2-2 to provide all the sights, sounds and highlights.

10:51 p.m. ET

Carolina scores into the open net after a wild scramble in front of its own net and we are going to be tied 2-2 in this best-of-7 series. 

Nikolaj Ehlers gets the goal, and Carolina gets the 5-3 win. 

Another amazing game here in Vegas. 

See you Thursday.

10:47 p.m. ET

We have 1:59 to play, Vegas trails 4-3, they have played the Arnold scream from "Predator." We are down to brass tacks here. 

Vegas also just pulled Carter Hart with a face-off coming in the Carolina offensive zone and has called timeout.

Get ready for a wild two minutes. 

Will Vegas tie this game and send it to OT or will the Canes hold on and send us all back to Raleigh tied 2-2 with a MASSIVE Game 5 at Lenovo Center on Thursday? 

Again, why am I asking you?

10:38 p.m. ET

This is thrill-a-minute hockey here. 

Vegas is pushing for the tying goal, trailing 4-3, with 6:02 left, but so far, Brandon Bussi has held down the fort in the Carolina goal. 

There are some more "Let's Go Canes" chants breaking out, followed by boos from the Vegas crowd.

They just showed a video of Tommy Lee from the Crue urging the fans to get going.  Followed by "Kickstart My Heart." Nice 

I have to say, I have not seen any tarps off here in Vegas. I'm sure that is going to be a theme back in Raleigh on Thursday. 

And yes, you read that right, we only have one off day between games, despite the cross-country travel.

10:33 p.m. ET 

The "Go Knights Go" chants in here are sounding more like the fans are pleading for the Knights to get going, with the home team trailing 4-3 with under 7:46 minutes to go here in Game 4. 

The chants are getting louder as the clock keeps ticking and Carolina goes into its defensive game. 

The question is can the Canes hold onto this lead, something that has been an issue all series.

10:29 p.m. ET

And the Canes go back on top, 4-3 after a wild sequence that saw Carter Hart first stop Seth Jarvis alone in front, only to see the puck somehow get to Jordan Staal, who scores while falling on his belly. 

We have about 13:20 left and Carolina is ahead. 

The crowd is going crazy here in T-Mobile, reacting to every shot, every save as if the season depends on it. You know why? Because it does. 

The Canes really have to win this game. Not only do they not want to fall behind 3-1 in this series, they don't want to lose a game they led 2-0 and 3-1. 

Remember, they led 2-0 early in the Game 1 and lost that one. 

It's really incredible how much trouble Carolina has had hanging onto leads, but Jordan Staal is having a night for the ages.

10:22 p.m. ET

The Hurricanes dodge a bullet in the opening minutes of the third, killing off a K'Andre Miller tripping penalty at 1:42. 

The third period started with the crowd rocking to "Jump Around" by House of Pain. 

The should have gotten Wayne Newton to sing along with "Jump Around."

So that's T-Pain and House of Pain taking center stage tonight. I'm sure Shawn Roarke and Brian Slagel must know of a death metal band with some form of pain in its name.

10:15 p.m. ET

The third period has begun and to say it's the most important 20 minutes of the season for the Hurricanes to this point is an understatement. 

They have blown leads of 2-0 and 3-1 and have been outscored 9-1 in the second period in this Final. 

Now the good news is they have outscored Vegas 8-2 in the third period, including 7-1 in the past two games, so there's that. 

I think the big question for Carolina going forward is the goalie situation. If Freddy Andersen was healthy, you would think he would have at least dressed for tonight, with Brandon Bussi starting. It will be interesting to see what Rod Brind'Amour says postgame. 

Although I may not be able to hear him since I may be deaf due to the music in this place. 

I've been to some death metal shows that weren't as loud as this place. 

Some more nuggets from NHLStats. 

* Mitch Marner (3-5—8) became the fifth player in the past 106 years to record eight or more points through his first four career Stanley Cup Final games. The others: Brian Leetch (4-5—9), Mario Lemieux (4-4—8), Toe Blake (3-5—8) and Mikko Rantanen (0-8—8).

* This marks the sixth Stanley Cup Final and second straight year – 32 from the Oilers and Panthers in 2025 – to see a combined 30 goals through the first four games of the series. The others: Islanders-North Stars in 1981 (36), Arenas-Millionaires in 1918 (36), Islanders-Flyers in 1980 (33) and the Canadiens-Blackhawks in 1973 (31).

* Brett Howden scored to tie the game 3-3. This marks the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that four games featured a team rally from a multigoal deficit to at least tie the game.

* Brett Howden scored his 14th goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and established a Golden Knights record for most in a single postseason, surpassing Jonathan Marchessault (13 in 2023).

* Brett Howden scored to record the seventh game-tying goal of the series. The only Stanley Cup Final series over the last 40 years to feature as many game-tying tallies through the first four contests are the Oilers-Panthers in 2025 (8), Blackhawks-Flyers in 2010 (8), Lightning-Blackhawks in 2015 (7) and the Ducks-Senators in 2007 (7).

9:58 p.m. ET

There are two periods in the books here, the fans are gonna get free Taco Bell since Vegas scored twice in the second and we are tied at 3-3. 

They even showed two fans in the crowd with a taco flag. Yes, a taco flag.

There's a Taco Bell Cantina on the Strip where you can get some tacos and some cold ones. I may need that after this game.

By the way, the tying goal was Brett Howden's 14th goal of the playoffs. That's right 14 goals. Vegas has 3 goals on 12 shots on Brandon Bussi, who is having a rough night in goal. 

We're not sure why Freddy Andersen was a healthy scratch, but Rod Brind'Amour is going to be pressed for answers after this one no matter who wins this game. 

The teams skated 4 aside for the final 1:30 of the second with Brayden McNabb (cross check) and Jackson Blake (goalie interference) each going off. The DJ played "Even Flow" from Pearl Jam. Even. Get it?

9:50 p.m. ET

And we are tied. The Golden Knights score with 2:52 left in the second and who else, Brett Howden? 

This goal comes just a minute or so after the Hurricanes dodged a bullet on the penalty kill. Jordan Staal's stick broke on the face-off to start the power play and Vegas had about 90 seconds of zone time but couldn't get a clear look. Huge PK for Carolina, which still leads 3-2 with 3:31 left in the second. 

My God the bass in here is intense. My brain is shaking. 

As the cheers cam wrapped up, some dude chugged a 25 oz. Kona Big Wave. That's pretty intense.

9:44 p.m. ET

Vegas keeps it a one-goal game - it's down 3-2 - with a solid penalty kill after Nic Dowd went off for roughing after he clocked Logan Stankoven in the back of his head with a crosscheck.

We have about six minutes left in this second period.  

And now Vegas goes to the power play after Carolina's William Carrier gets called for interference. 

Before the Vegas power play can start - during the shovel break - they did the cheers cam, which is basically a chug cam.

The DJ played "Heat of the Moment" by Asia and "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol right before the Carolina power play. If those two classics don't get you fired up to block a shot or kill a penalty, nothing will.

After the penalty kill, they showed a video of the great Carrot Top asking fans to make some noise. He didn't have any props with him, so not sure it worked.

9:37 p.m. ET

This is turning into another epic with each team trading punches. 

Carolina leads 3-2 with 9:03 left in the second and it's anybody's game. 

The Hurricanes got off to an early 2-0 lead, but - tell me if you've heard this before - saw the lead cut in a half a few minutes later. 

Carolina went up 3-1 after one, but Vegas scored early in the second and that's where we are. 

There are certainly a lot Canes fans here and they are making themselves noticeable with some "Let's Go Canes" chants. 

During the last break, DJ played "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I mean, honestly, does it get any better than this? 

As for Game 3 in 1994, I was wrong. Game 3 was when Pavel Bure got a game misconduct for hitting Jay Wells in the face with his stick. 

Game 4, also in Vancouver, is when Richter stopped Bure on a penalty shot.

9:25 p.m. ET

Vegas has scored and it's now a 3-2 Carolina lead with 15:38 left in the second. 

Mitch Marner brought the puck into the zone, got it to Rasmus Andersson, who went behind the net and found a cutting William Karlsson, who buried it. 

This series has become must-watch TV. 

Speaking of, I see Game 3 of this series averaged 5 million people, the most for a Cup Final Game since 2002 and the most for a Game 3 of a Final since 1994. 

Without looking it up, I think that was the game where Mike Richter stopped Pavel Bure on the penalty shot. Or was that Game 4? I need to look at the next break. 

Those numbers are amazing and speak to how great this series has been and how great this NHL season has been, including the amazing Olympics. 

Thanks for watching. 

Just when we thought we had seen it all in this series, Canes goalie Brandon Bussi just did a reverse, through-the-legs pass. He was behind his own net and there wasn't much pressure on him, but it was pretty cool and gutsy nonetheless.

9:20 p.m. ET

The second period is about to begin, Carolina leads 3-1 and we all caught our breath after a wild first period that featured four goals and Vegas missing a second goal by a tenth of a second. 

How crazy was the first period? Sara Campbell of NHL Stats is sitting next to me and I think she was typing more than I was in that period. 

Here are some numbers from that first period. 

* Logan Stankoven scored his 11th goal of the playoffs and surpassed Eric Staal (10 in 2009) for the second most in a postseason in Hurricanes/Whalers history. Stankoven is one shy of matching Rod Brind’Amour’s franchise-record 12 goals in 2006.

* Logan Stankoven became the ninth player in NHL history to score at least five game-opening goals in a single playoff year. Only three had more: Sidney Crosby (6 in 2009), Fernando Pisani (6 in 2006) and Bobby Hull (6 in 1962). 

* Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake scored within the first 3:28 of the first period, marking Carolina’s second-fastest two goals to begin a playoff game following Game 5 of 2024 First Round (3:13).  

* With an assist on Carolina’s second goal, Taylor Hall (3-7—10 in 8 GP) tied the Hurricanes franchise mark for road points in a single postseason, joining Ron Francis (10 in 2002) and Cory Stillman (10 in 2006).

* If the Golden Knights and Hurricanes record one more goal in the first period, it will mark the second time in Stanley Cup Final history the teams combined for four or more goals in three straight regulation periods. The other: Islanders and Flyers in 1980 from period 2 of Game 5 to period 1 of Game 6.

* Skating in his 100th postseason game since joining the Golden Knights, captain Mark Stone added to his franchise record for postseason goals (43) to bring Vegas within one. Since joining the Golden Knights in 2018-19, only Nathan MacKinnon (57), Leon Draisaitl (49), Brad Marchand (45) and Mikko Rantanen (44) have more playoff goals than Stone.

* Jordan Staal became the fourth player in the expansion era (since 1968) to record a goal in the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. The others are Mike Bossy (4 GP in 1982 w/ NYI), Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981 w/ MNS) and Johnny Bucyk (4 GP in 1970 w/ BOS).

* Jordan Staal tied the second-longest goal streak in a postseason in Hurricanes/Whalers history at four games, achieved by Bates Battaglia (2002) and Ray Sheppard (1999). Logan Stankoven’s five-game run earlier this postseason set the record.

* Jordan Staal became the first captain in NHL history to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final series.

9:01 p.m. ET

As if the series can't get any nuttier, Vegas scores just as the period expires. 

The fans celebrated, but upon review it's clear the clock hit 0.0 before the puck went in. 

The fans booed. Not sure who they were booing - time, physics, reality. 

Vegas went to the power play with 2:28 left in the first on a slashing penalty by Taylor Hall. 

It had a chance to make it a 3-2 game and get everyone some free Taco Bell, but it remains 3-1 Carolina after the first period.  

Hall, coming out of the box, had a chance to make it 4-1 with 20.8 left in the period, but was stuffed on a breakaway by Carter Hart. 

Huge play. Circle that one. 

Not surprisingly, up until the power play, it had been somewhat quiet in here.  

The Hurricanes came out flying from the start and lead 3-1 late in the first.

They are playing their game, outshooting Vegas 13-4 in first 17:30 minutes of the period. 

And now a "Let's Go Hurricanes, Let's Go Canes" chant has broken out. 

While we didn't see a lot of Vegas fans in Raleigh, there is a good number of Canes fans here in Vegas. 

I mean, when you have a town where you can see Donny Osmond or Rich Little live, how can you pass that up? 

Me and Tom Gulitti are still a bit miffed we missed the big Christopher Cross show the other night.

8:46 p.m. ET

Jordan Staal scores in his fourth straight Final game just 21 seconds into the power play and it's 3-1 Carolina. 

Carolina went on the power play with 7:33 left in the first when Vegas was caught with too many men on the ice. 

Shayne Gostisbehere took a shot toward the net, it was blocked by Brayden McNabb and Staal was there to bang it home. Carolina has three goals on 12 shots on goal. 

With that goal, Staal became the fourth player in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. The others are Mike Bossy (4 GP in 1982 w/ NYI), Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981 w/ MNS) and Johnny Bucyk (4 GP in 1970 w/ BOS).

The Canes have now scored on the power play and scored four seconds after a power play ended. Note to Vegas, stay out of the box. 

After the goal, they played a clip of Jim Carrey making a sad face in "Dumb and Dumber." I think it's when he sees Harry with Mary in Aspen.

8:40 p.m ET

This game has plenty of up-and-down action. 

Brandon Bussi just made a nice save on Pavel Dorofeyev to keep it 2-1 Carolina with 8:16 left. 

I've learned one thing about the NHL.com crew on this trip - they all love peanut M&Ms. 

They have raided the M Lounge at our Marriot in Raleigh and they are scarfing down the peanut M&Ms the Golden Knights put out for the media. 

OK, not they, we. I've had a few myself. 

My plan to watch my weight has gone to hell on this trip, with steak dinners, M&Ms and seemingly big meals at every turn. 

Shawn Roarke calls it the NHL - Never Hungry League. He's not lying.

Speaking of, fans at the game will get free fries from McDonald's tomorrow and we are one Vegas goal in the period away from free Taco Bell. 

What a time to be alive.

8:33 p.m. ET

Looks like we have another wild one shaping up here. 

It's now 2-1 Hurricanes after Mark Stone beats Bussi on a breakaway at 7:32. 

Shea Theodore makes a gorgeous pass from his own d-zone to Stone at the blueline and he walks in and is able to get it around Bussi. 

And this place is going nuts again. 

That's three goals in the first seven minutes of the game. 

Everyone who expected a defensive standoff in the series has to be scratching their heads at what is going on. 

But the fans love it.

8:28 p.m. ET

The Hurricanes cash in four seconds after the power play expires, Taylor Hall making a gorgeous pass to Jackson Blake, who buries it into an open net. 

It's 2-0 and we're just 3:28 into the game. 

The goal came just a few seconds after Brandon Bussi passed his first major test in this game, stopping Mark Stone on a short-handed breakaway. 

I even heard a few "Bussi, Bussi" chants break out. 

What a start for Carolina. 2-0 early in the first. 

As the goal went in, the DJ played "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer.

8:24 p.m. ET

The Hurricanes score first, just 1:06 into the game. Jalen Chatfield takes a shot on goal, it goes wide, but bounces in front where Logan Stankoven finds in and backhands it in. 

Hurricanes lead 1-0 and now they are going on the power play with 18:36 left after Shea Theodore gets whistled for tripping. 

What a start.

T-Pain is doing double duty tonight. He played the pregame show and then cranked the siren pregame.

8:20 p.m. ET

As expected, Mother Nature was no match for the golden knight. If you're keeping score, she's 0-2 in this Final. 

As expected, this place is really loud as the crowd can sense a second Cup title in the past four seasons. 

A win tonight would really increase the odds. 

I just love the pregame theatrics they do here. It's so great, it's so cheesy and it's so Vegas. 

Speaking of 100 percent Vegas, I believe Wayne Newton is in the house tonight. He's Mr. Las Vegas. 

Anyway, all the guessing, all the theatrics, all the hype is over and we are ready to play hockey. 

Here we go.

8:08 p.m. ET

While we wait for Mother Nature to take another shot at taking down the Golden Knight in the pregame show, here is some great nuggets from our NHL Stats crew. 

The Hurricanes are the second team in NHL history to erase a multigoal deficit in the third period of multiple Stanley Cup Final games in a single series regardless of the outcome. The other is the 1964 Maple Leafs during Game 2 (4-3 OT L) and Game 3 (4-3 L) against the Red Wings. The Maple Leafs eventually ended up winning the series in seven games. 

The Hurricanes have spent 46.2% of time in the offensive zone with the puck this postseason which is the most among all teams. Since the 2022 postseason, the Hurricanes have had the best percentage among all teams in every single playoff year (45.4% in 2022, 44.4% in 2023, 45.3% in 2024, 45.1 % in 2025). 

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal can become the fourth player in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final. The others are Mike Bossy (4 GP in 1982, Islanders), Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981, North Stars) and Johnny Bucyk (4 GP in 1970, Bruins). 

Staal (3-1—4 in 3 GP) can join his brother Eric (2-6—8 in 7 GP) as the second Staal brother with five or more points in the Stanley Cup Final with the Hurricanes franchise. The only sets of brothers to record as many career points in the championship round with a single franchise are Henri and Maurice Richard (Canadiens), Frank and Peter Mahovlich (Canadiens), Dennis and Bobby Hull (Blackhawks), Brent and Duane Sutter (Islanders), Don and Nick Metz (w/ Maple Leafs), Bill and Fred Cook (Rangers). 

The Golden Knights (53 G in 13 GP) are averaging 4.08 goals per game all-time in the Stanley Cup Final which is the second-best rate among all tams behind the Islanders (4.13; 99 G in 24 GP). 

The Golden Knights can become the fourth different team in the past 40 years to win five consecutive Stanley Cup Final home games. The others are the Ducks (6-0 from 2003 to 2007) and the Penguins (5-0 from 1991 to 2008 and 2009 to 2016). 

Vegas forward Mitch Marner (3-4—7 in 3 GP) is tied for the most points by a player through their first three career Stanley Cup Final games in the modern era (since 1943-44). The others are Rod Gilbert (4-3—7 w/ NYR), Denis Potvin (4-3—7 in 1980 w/ NYI), and Mikko Rantanen (0-7—7 w/ COL).

Shea Theodore (4-10—14 in 13 GP), who recorded two points in Game 3 including the overtime winner, is averaging 1.08 career points in the Stanley Cup Final which is the fourth-best rate by a defenseman (min. 10 GP) behind only Bobby Orr (1.25; 8-12—20 in 16 GP), Al MacInnis (1.18; 4-9—13 in 11 GP) and Denis Potvin (1.17; 9-19—28 in 24 GP).

7:57 p.m. ET

As if this series needed any more drama, we now have Brandon Bussi in goal for Carolina, Frederik Andersen not even in uniform and Pyotr Kochetkov as the backup. 

Andersen did not practice for a maintenance day on Monday, per coach Rod Brind’Amour.

When asked yesterday by reporters if Andersen was OK after he was hit in the head in the collision with Ivan Barbashev on the goalie interference play in the second period, Brind’Amour said yes.

The Hurricanes are saying he's a healthy scratch, so him not playing is not injury related. 

It's amazing, but we are just three games into the final heading into tonight and there have been more twists and turns than the New York, New York roller coaster right down the block from T-Mobile Arena. 

Actually, sitting in this arena feels like being on a roller coaster. The bass is so bassy that the seats and tables shake with each note. 

I have a cup of iced tea next to me and it's rippling like the water cup in that scene from Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is on his way. 

Warmups are over. The players are back in their rooms, the fans are streaming in from the T-Pain concert and we are almost ready to go. 

The crazy pregame show is up next, then the anthems and then at least 60 more minutes of mayhem.

7:45 p.m. ET

We have big news here from Vegas – Brandon Bussi will start in goal for the Hurricanes in Game 4.

As it turns out, this was not a tough call for coach Rod Brind’Amour, since Freddy Andersen, who helped the Hurricanes get this far, isn't even dressed,  Pyotr Kochetkov will be the backup tonight. 

The players are on the ice, Bussi is in net. It won’t be long now before the extravagant pregame festivities begin.

7:30 p.m. 

Welcome back. 

For the first time in the series, we had two days off between games and we needed them after three wild, crazy and incredible games. Vegas leads the best-of-7 series after an insane Game 3 on Saturday that saw Vegas take a 4-0 lead, Carolina tie it up and Vegas then win in double overtime. 

And we have plenty of intrigue as we wait for warmups to start. 

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour would not say in his pregame media availability about 2 hours ago who his starting goalie will be. 

Will it be Freddie Andersen or will he switch to Brandon Bussi, who played great in relief of Andersen in Game 3? 

I think he should go with Bussi, but if I were a betting man, I would think it’s Andersen. 

As for the scene here in Vegas. T-Pain did a pregame concert out at Toshiba Plaza which was really cool. 

Well, cool from a vibe sense, but uncool from a temperature sense. It’s another hot one here in Vegas. 

How hot? The ice in Dan Rosen’s Starbucks iced tea melted in the 2-3 minutes we were outside on our walk over from the Park MGM. 

We are just a few minutes away from finding out who will start in goal for the Canes. I’ll check back then.