LAS VEGAS (AP) 鈥� Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal chose the simple approach to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final with Carolina trailing in the best-of-seven series.
But, . Then again, considering how he has played against the Vegas Golden Knights in this series, perhaps it was.
With the game tied at 3 in the third period, Staal鈥檚 sprawling backhand shot while in the air with 13:29 left beat Vegas’ Carter Hart and found the back of the net for his second score of the game, and it held .
鈥淔or a second, I wasn鈥檛 sure if it exactly went in, and I heard everyone go quiet,鈥� said Staal, who lay face down on the ice after his acrobatic goal. 鈥淚 heard some guys yelling. I was in my own world. It was an incredible moment, obviously, and just let a big yell go and then celebrated with the guys.鈥�
It was yet another big moment that Staal found a way to spark his team when it needed it most.
The 37-year-old, who has five goals in the series, said as long as the wild and zany series that has been defined by 鈥渘o lead is safe,鈥� the Hurricanes have to pounce on every opportunity.
鈥淭here are fine lines of making plays, and we have to make big plays, there鈥檚 no question,鈥� Staal said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a simple game that we can run, and when you know when they maybe call uncle, and you jump on it. And that鈥檚 what they鈥檝e done to us very well, as well. It鈥檚 just kind of a back-and-forth kind of stress game, and who can do it better.”
Tuesday, that was Carolina.
The Hurricanes came out with a sense of urgency by taking a 2-0 lead early to set the tone, and dominated the shots on goal, 23-12 after two periods, and then withstood Vegas’ late surge before Staal’s heroics.
The series is tied at 2 and returns to Carolina for Game 5 on Thursday.
That’s how long the Golden Knights have to figure out how to stop Staal from adding to his scoring tally.
鈥淗e鈥檚 killing us in front of the net, Staal,鈥� Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said. 鈥淪o, we have got to do a better job around the blue.鈥�
Staal became the first player since Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders in 1982 to score a goal in each of the first four games of the final.
Staal also tied the second-longest playoff goal streak in franchise history, behind teammate Logan Stankoven, who set the record at five earlier this postseason.
He said he isn’t concerned with milestones, though, or the fact that he has 11 points in these playoffs, including seven goals.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think big picture right now, it鈥檚 too hard to think like that,” Staal said. “It鈥檚 just like, my goodness, it鈥檚 the next shift, next play, next game, next everything. And that鈥檚 all that鈥檚 running through my brain, is how do we get two more wins.
“And that鈥檚 it.鈥�
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