In a crucial Game Four, Carolina came out and dominated the first period, ending it up 3-1. But they still needed a third-period goal to secure the win, with Jordan Staal restoring the lead and Nikolaj Ehlers adding an empty-netter to seal a 5-3 victory and tie the series 2-2.
Down two-one in the series, Carolina turned to rookie Brandon Bussi in net. The Hurricanes did their best to protect him, limiting Vegas to only 12 shots through the first two periods and a total of 21 on the night.
Carolina came out hot. Logan Stankoven opened the scoring 1:06 into the game, finding a loose puck in front of the net and shoveling it over Vegas goaltender Brandon Bussi for a 1-0 lead.
Just over two minutes later, Jackson Blake made it 2-0 Carolina, taking a nifty pass from Taylor Hall and burying it in the net for a power-play goal, his sixth tally of the playoffs.
The Golden Knights got on the board at 7:22 of the first period. Mark Stone snuck behind the defence, deeked out Bussi, and pulled Vegas within one at 2-1.
Carolina pushed the lead back to two with their second power-play goal. Jordan Staal fired a rebound home to make it 3-1 at 12:48.
It appeared the Golden Knights had cut the deficit again late in the first when Brayden McNabb rifled a shot that beat Bussi, but officials reviewed it and determined the goal crossed the line after the period expired.
Vegas came out firing in the second period. Rasmus Anderson circled the net and found William Karlsson with a pass, and Karlsson buried it past Bussi to make it 3-2 at 4:22.
Later in the period, Brent Howden scored his 14th of the playoffs with a sneaky wrister to tie the game at 3-3.
Carolina regained the lead after a bad Vegas turnover deep in their own end. The puck eventually found its way to Staal, who backhanded it past Hart while falling down for a 4-3 lead. Staal’s second of the game at 6:33 proved to be the game winner.
Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal at 19:05 for a 5-3 final.
The series moves back to Carolina on Thursday night.
