If you want to convince someone in your life to become an NHL fan, show them the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.
Like every other game in the series, Game 4 in Vegas on Tuesday night was a barn-burner. The Hurricanes won 5-3, evening the series at 2-2.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at three winners and losers from Game 4.
Winners
Hurricanes center Jordan Staal
Staal described Carolina’s 5-4 double-overtime loss to Vegas in Game 3 as a “kick in the you-know-what.” He responded by kicking plenty of you-know-what in Game 4.
Staal scored two goals in Tuesday’s matchup, including one that broke a 3-3 tie 6:32 into the third period. It’s more impressive when you consider he did so while falling onto the ice.
Staal, 37, may be one of the older players in the series, but that hasn’t prevented him from being one of the biggest difference-makers. Entering Tuesday night, he had scored three goals in three games in the series.
If he can keep providing a kick in Game 5 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday (ABC, 8 p.m. ET), that will help the Hurricanes continue to gain the momentum they need to win the series.
Hurricanes left winger Nikolaj Ehlers
Staal was the X-factor on Tuesday, but let’s not overlook Ehlers’ contributions. He logged three points (one goal and two assists) on Tuesday night. The forward scored an empty-netter 19:05 into the third period.
That performance shouldn’t surprise Hurricanes fans, as he’s been one of the team’s most reliable players throughout the postseason. He now ranks fourth on the team in playoff points (seven goals and seven assists for 14 points).
Ehlers left the Winnipeg Jets in free agency this offseason to play for Stanley Cups. The Western Conference squad must regret letting him walk after watching him shine throughout the playoffs.
Hockey fans
Let’s take a second to appreciate this Stanley Cup Final, which will go down as one of the most exciting in league history when it concludes.
Through four games, the Hurricanes and Golden Knights have combined for 33 goals. Per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, that mark is tied for No. 3 in Stanley Cup Final history.
According to the NHL’s website, the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks combined for a record 56 goals during the 1973 Stanley Cup Final. Will the Hurricanes and Golden Knights surpass that figure? If the series goes seven games, which it just may, they should have a shot at doing so.
Losers
Golden Knights right winger Mitch Marner
Marner was criticized throughout his nine-year tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs for failing to step up in the playoffs. Those troubles came back to haunt him in Game 4.
Marner logged one assist but scored no goals and posted a minus-one in 23:58 on the ice. The forward may have been gassed after logging a hat trick in Game 3. He’s had the best postseason of his career, tallying 10 goals in his first 19 games.
Monitor whether Marner bounces back in Game 5. He must do so to erase the narrative that he wilts in the big moments and to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs).
Golden Knights’ puck handling
Vegas, of course, has looked excellent throughout the series, but one key issue remains: Its puck handling. The Golden Knights committed 23 giveaways in Game 4, while the Hurricanes had 15.
Per StatMuse, the Golden Knights have now averaged 19.5 giveaways per game in the Stanley Cup. That’s a concerning number for a squad that’s already one of the sloppiest in the league. Vegas committed 1,292 giveaways during the regular season, No. 7 in the NHL.
They must clean up this problem fast to rebound in Game 5 and win the series.
Hurricanes goalie change
Yes, the Hurricanes won on Tuesday, but let’s not pretend replacing goalie Frederik Andersen with rookie Brandon Bussi was a rousing success.
Bussi saved 18-of-21 shots (.857 save percentage, below average) on Tuesday night. That’s a better save percentage than Andersen had in Game 3 (.750), but not one that should have Carolina believing he’ll shut down Vegas for the remainder of the series.
Game 5 will present another massive test for the rookie goalie. He may have fewer jitters and play better than he did Tuesday. But given his postseason experience, it’s uncertain he will.