The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the NHL's top 50 pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) heading into the summer. Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev made the cut, as he was given the No. 31 spot.
Seeing Mikheyev be ranked among the top pending UFAs in the NHL is not too difficult to understand. The 31-year-old forward is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 34 points and is a highly impactful penalty killer. Because of this, it is very likely that he will generate a good amount of interest from teams looking to boost their bottom six if he tests the free agent market this summer.
Mikheyev appeared in 77 games this season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded 18 goals and set a career high with 36 points. This is after he posted 20 goals and 34 points in 80 games for the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 campaign. With this, he has been a solid part of the Blackhawks' roster over the last two seasons.
It is going to be interesting to see what happens with Mikheyev leading up to July 1. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that the Chicago has made Mikheyev's signing rights available for trade. Yet, with how well Mikheyev has played for the Blackhawks, it would not be surprising if they continued to try to keep him in Chicago.
On Tuesday night, Sound Beach, Long Island native Brandon Bussi got the start for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
For Bussi, a journeyman who went undrafted, played 111 AHL games, and spent time in three different organizations with countless waiver adventures in between, he's never stopped believing that he belonged in the NHL.
Ahead of his first career Stanley Cup start:
My chat with Brandon Bussi’s former goalie coach — my former goalie coach — @cmtesta1 on Bussi’s development, the challenges along the way & what it means to see a LI kid find his way to the top @TheElmonters:https://t.co/R9xC2eqCYH
After 31 regular-season wins, becoming the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach 11 games, Bussi made 18 saves in a 5-3 win to even the series at two apiece.
This was his first start since April. 14, their regular-season finale win over the New York Islanders. He did relieve Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, turning aside 19 of 20 shots in a 5-4 double overtime loss.
"They're the reason I'm able to do what I'm doing right now. Their sacrifice means everything. And yeah, they're the best." ❤️
Brandon Bussi gets emotional speaking about his family in his interview with @sportsnetkyle following his first win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/zsPpEdTk2k
As we near the date of the 2026 NHL draft, it’s hard not to think back on some of the most formidable picks made in the Montreal Canadiens’ history. 55 years ago, on June 10, 1971, the Habs made not one but two franchise-altering picks.
That year, fresh off another Stanley Cup conquest, the Canadiens had the first-overall pick thanks to an astute trade by Sam Pollock a year earlier. The GM had sent Ernie Hicke and Montreal's 1970 first-round pick to the California Golden Seals in return for Francois Lacombe and the Golden Seals’ first-round pick at the 1971 draft. The California side had finished last overall with just 45 points in 78 games, giving Montreal the first overall pick just in time for one of the most promising prospects ever to be available to draft: Guy Lafleur.
The Canadiens therefore picked Lafleur first overall, and he would go on to become one of the best players in history. To this day, he still holds the record for most points while wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, with 1246 points in 961 games, and the record for most points in a single season with the Habs, with 136 points. A real phenomenon that marked not only the Canadiens’ history, but also the NHL’s. Nowadays, you can sometimes hear people say that Ivan Demidov is the most talented player the Canadiens have had since Lafleur, but will he be able to catch him in the history books? It remains to be seen.
If that wasn’t a good enough pick up for the Canadiens, in the second round, they drafted Larry Robinson, who, like Lafleur, has marked the team's history. Big Bird, as he was nicknamed, put up 883 points in 1202 games with the Tricolore and also holds the record for most points in a single season by a Canadiens’ defenseman with 85.
Of course, it looks like Lane Hutson may just break that record, since he reached 78 points in just his second season, but still, Robinson’s points total and the number of games he played with the Canadiens will be hard to catch. At the end of his eight-year contract, Hutson will have played 838 games with the Habs, unless he misses some games due to injury or is moved before then, which seems highly unlikely.
The Canadiens' odds of making a franchise-altering pick in the upcoming draft are slim, but you can never say never, after all, Hutson was a 62nd overall pick, and there can always be some hidden gems.
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 10: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks on from the bench at an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“What is one of the Devils’ biggest needs, if not the biggest? A top-six winger to complement Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. The Devils finished 31st in five-on-five goals last season, and while playing style was part of the reason, Kyrou may be the perfect fit to bolster the Devils’ offense.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Only Hischier knows for sure…but maybe — just maybe — all this losing has shifted his priorities. While AFP Analytics projects an eight-year, $11.459 million AAV contract for him, say he takes $9 or $10 million instead. He’d still earn $72–80 million over the life of the deal, on top of the roughly $45 million he’s already earned in the NHL. That extra cap flexibility could make a world of difference when attempting to properly complement the roster.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
We have named Peter Laviolette as the club’s 32nd head coach in franchise history, it was announced today by Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland.
“The Edmonton Oilers are in consultation with the NHL Players’ Association to see if there are objections to potentially hiring Mike Babcock for their vacant head coaching job, according to league sources.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and his list was limited to being dealt to Vegas, Minnesota and Florida.” [Associated Press]
Where might Dylan Larkin end up in a trade and what assets might the Red Wings get back? [The Athletic ($)]
Gabriel Landeskog is this season’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awardee:
Gabriel Landeskog is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner for the 2025-26 season! 💪
The trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. #NHLAwardspic.twitter.com/hMbgQ8g71B
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a 5-3 final score in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. With this, the Hurricanes have tied the series up at 2-2 as they head back to Raleigh for Game 5.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jordan Staal certainly played a role in the Hurricanes' Game 4 win. This is because the veteran center scored two goals in the contest, including the game-winner.
This was just the latest strong performance from Staal during the Stanley Cup Final. The former Penguins forward has been playing some excellent hockey for the Canes, as he has five goals in four games this series. He also has scored at least one goal in each of the Hurricanes' four games against the Golden Knights this Stanley Cup Final.
With this, there is no question that Staal is heating up at the perfect time for the Hurricanes. The 37-year-old forward now has seven goals, four assists, 11 points, and a plus-6 rating in 17 games this post-season.
It will now be interesting to see if Staal can keep this kind of play up from here. It is clear that the former Penguins forward is red-hot right now.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brett Kulak (77) skates with the puck during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on January 1, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Brett Kulak Born: Jan. 6, 1994 (32 years old) Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 192 pounds Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Shoots: Left Draft: 2012 NHL Draft, fourth round, 14th pick (105th overall) by Calgary Flames 2025-26 Statistics (with Pittsburgh): 25 games played; one goal; six assists; seven points Contract Status: Entering unrestricted free agency on July 1 after completion of a four-year, $11,000,000 contract
Kulak’s best month undoubtedly was January, with all of these games coming in a Pittsburgh sweater. He had his highest amount of shots on goal, and he was rewarded with his lone goal on the season and four additional assists.
Perhaps Kulak’s best game came when he scored that one goal in a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 19. He also took home a plus-3 rating during that game.
Story of the Season
When Pittsburgh acquired defenseman Brett Kulak as part of the Tristan Jarry trade with the Edmonton Oilers in December, the team was looking for a reliable veteran who could eat minutes. The Penguins also had to take on Kulak and Stuart Skinner’s contracts to help get the deal over the line with the cap-strapped Oilers.
Kulak ultimately provided that veteran presence in his short tenure with the Penguins.
The 32-year-old defenseman was never expected to be an offensive driver, and his numbers reflected that. Across his 2025-26 campaign, Kulak recorded one goal and 11 assists in 83 games overall.
But his value was always going to be measured more by how he helped stabilize a rather inconsistent Pittsburgh defensive corps.
A little more than two months after he was acquired by Pittsburgh, general manager Kyle Dubas flipped Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for fellow defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 11 defensemen on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
Kulak’s underlying numbers suggest he largely provided unspectacular results in a Penguins uniform, ranking near the bottom among qualified Penguins defensemen in several possession and chance-generation metrics.
His expected goals share was slightly above break-even at 50.17%, indicating the Penguins generated a nearly even share of quality chances with him on the ice at five-on-five.
Offensively, Kulak contributed modestly with 0.8 points per 60 minutes, but he only appeared in 25 games with the team before being traded again.
Defensively, his on-ice save percentage ranked sixth on the team, helping offset some of the weaker chance metrics.
Playing on three different teams in a single season is a unique challenge, and Kulak had some struggles with maintaining his impacts from prior seasons. Overall, as a bottom-pair defenseman, he can add to a PK and provide a decent DV defensive performance, but his offense isn’t going to add much to a team.
Hockeystats.com has a scouting report on Kulak that includes, “A terrific rush defender who uses his feet and stick to force turnovers and dump-ins at the blueline,” but the data didn’t back that up this year, besides preventing entry chances. Then again, as mentioned, it couldn’t be easy to produce consistent results while having so many different teams, coaches, teammates, and strategies thrown at him this year.
Kulak is going to stay home at the left point more often than not in the offensive zone. He is typically an active skater, using his wheels and covering a lot of ground going up and down the ice.
Skating is still a pretty good base for Kulak, even now into his 30’s. He’s no burner but is efficient and somewhat quick without having high-end speed. It’s more than good enough for his game as a positional defenseman to try and keep the play in front of him and turn on the jets when they need to be there to cover a different part of the ice.
The Penguins have acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and the Edmonton Oilers 2029 second-round draft pick in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin.
Thanks for being part of the deal that allowed the Penguins to jettison the Tristan Jarry contract! We salute you.
Questions to ponder
Simply put: where will Kulak end up for the 2026-27 season after his contract expires? I could see a scenario where the Colorado Avalanche re-up with Kulak to give them more of the same on the back end.
Ideal 2026-27
Wherever Kulak ends up for the 2026-27 season, it more than likely will not be with Pittsburgh. But Kulak can continue to eat bottom-pair minutes, kill penalties, and perhaps be a valuable elder statesman who can mentor younger defensemen.
Bottom line
Kulak’s cup of coffee with the Penguins was what everyone should have expected: He was a professional and dependable veteran.
He was not a game-changer, but he was steady, adaptable, and capable of handling meaningful minutes.
The trade to the Avalanche served as a cap-clearing move for Colorado while adding defensive depth to their roster for their inevitable playoff run. Pittsburgh added yet another draft pick to its ever-growing stockpile of potential future assets.
And while Sam Girard’s short tenure in the black and gold has been a bit of a roller coaster thus far, it was another tidy piece of business for Kyle Dubas and company.
Final Grade: C+
Considering the circumstances, the acquisition of Kulak was a smart move. The Penguins wanted out of Jarry’s contract and needed help on defense, and Kulak provided it without demanding a major role or forcing the team into a long-term commitment.
Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -154, Golden Knights +129; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP FINAL: Series tied 2-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights are in a 2-2 series tie in the Stanley Cup Final. The teams meet Tuesday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 5-3 in the previous matchup. Jordan Staal led the Hurricanes with two goals.
Carolina has a 53-22-7 record overall and a 36-12-2 record on its home ice. The Hurricanes have a 29-9-3 record when scoring a power-play goal.
Vegas has a 26-16-9 record on the road and a 39-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have a 50-8-12 record when scoring three or more goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho has 27 goals and 53 assists for the Hurricanes. Staal has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Jack Eichel has 27 goals and 63 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has scored seven goals and added two assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.
Golden Knights: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
One phone call could give the Utah Mammoth their next franchise gamble—and leave the Detroit Red Wings admitting one of their biggest draft investments never became what they envisioned.
Mammoth Exploring Another Major Move
After reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs in just their second season, Utah appears determined to keep accelerating its rise rather than settling for incremental progress. According to ESPN's Kevin Weekes, the organization has entered the conversation for a young goaltender whose future in Detroit has become increasingly uncertain.
“I’m told G Cossa could be on the move with [the Mammoth] among the interested clubs,” Weekes reported.
Selected 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Sebastian Cossa arrived with the expectations of becoming Detroit's long-term answer between the pipes. Instead, his development has largely unfolded in the American Hockey League, where the Hamilton, Ontario native has appeared in 123 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins while receiving only a single NHL appearance.
A Low-Risk Bet With High-End Upside
Utah's immediate future in goal already belongs to Karel Vejmelka, who is under contract through the 2029-30 campaign. That stability gives the Mammoth the flexibility to pursue a high-ceiling project without the pressure of forcing him into a starting role.
For a franchise still building its foundation, acquiring a former first-round talent could prove to be a calculated swing worth taking. If Utah believes its development staff can unlock the potential that once made Cossa one of hockey's premier goaltending prospects, the investment could pay significant dividends.
Detroit Appears Ready To Turn The Page
From Detroit's perspective, a potential trade would represent the latest chapter in the organization's ongoing search for stability in net.
General manager Steve Yzerman spent a first-round pick hoping Cossa would eventually become the franchise cornerstone at the position, but five years later that vision appears to be fading. The Red Wings further signaled their intentions by acquiring John Gibson last offseason, creating additional uncertainty around Cossa's place in the organization's long-term plans.
Utah's draft capital is also worth monitoring. The Mammoth surrendered three second-round selections to the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline to acquire Mackenzie Weegar, leaving a first-round pick as their most valuable remaining asset alongside several mid-round choices.
Meanwhile, Detroit could have even bigger decisions looming. Persistent speculation surrounding captain Dylan Larkin's future has fueled talk of a blockbuster offseason, and if the Red Wings ultimately acquire another NHL-ready goaltender or elite goalie prospect in such a deal, moving Cossa would become an even easier decision.
For Utah, the opportunity is straightforward: buy low on a talented young netminder before another organization discovers the player Detroit once believed it had drafted.
One phone call could reshape the balance of power in the Atlantic Division—but it might cost the Buffalo Sabres more than any other team in hockey.
Atlantic Division Rivals May Have To Pay Extra For Dylan Larkin
The possibility of Dylan Larkin leaving the Detroit Red Wings has quickly become one of the NHL offseason's biggest storylines, but any team hoping to pry away the veteran captain from within the division should expect a significantly steeper price.
According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, general manager Steve Yzerman isn't eager to strengthen a direct rival. And, not to sound crass, he hasn't seemed too eager to strengthen his own team, to boot.
"The return would have to be phenomenal, though, for [Wings general manager Steve] Yzerman to trade Larkin within the Atlantic Division."
That immediately puts clubs like the Buffalo Sabres at a disadvantage, even as they continue searching for the elite top-line center who could accelerate their climb back into playoff contention.
Is Larkin Worth The Dough?
The Sabres entered the offseason needing more stability down the middle, particularly in the faceoff circle and on the power play. Larkin addresses both concerns while bringing proven leadership and consistent offensive production.
The 29-year-old finished the season with 67 points, scoring 34 goals while adding 33 assists in 74 games. He also won 52.9 percent of his faceoffs and produced 24 power-play points, giving Buffalo exactly the type of two-way presence it has lacked in recent years.
The challenge isn't identifying the fit—it's convincing Detroit to make a deal with a division opponent.
Adding another layer of complexity, Larkin possesses a full no-trade clause, giving him substantial control over the process. St. James reported that his initial preferred destinations include the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights. The Red Wings have reportedly asked for Larkin to expand that list and he has reportedly added the Anaheim Ducks, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Islanders to the mix.
If Buffalo ever receives consideration, the asking price could become even more aggressive than a traditional blockbuster package.
The Sabres would likely have to part with Jack Quinn, top defensive prospect Radim Mrtka, and multiple draft picks. Is Dylan Larkin really worth that kind of package? That's a difficult case to make.
There's no question Larkin is an excellent player, but the caliber of assets Buffalo could be forced to surrender suggests a return closer to a perennial 90-to-100-point producer. That's simply not who Larkin has been.
Despite consistently playing first-line minutes, he has never reached the 80-point mark, let alone 90, making it fair to question whether the price would outweigh the upgrade. Goaltending should be their priority if we're being completely honest.
Could Anton Wahlberg Become The Extra Piece?
An Atlantic Division premium would almost certainly require the Sabres to surrender another valuable asset, and one intriguing possibility is center prospect Anton Wahlberg.
The 20-year-old second-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft remains an intriguing long-term project, but his offensive development has progressed slower than many expected.
Wahlberg recorded 38 points, including nine goals and 29 assists, in 68 games with the Rochester Americans after posting 30 points in 63 contests the previous season.
Standing 6-foot-3, the Swedish center already displays mature defensive instincts and possesses the physical tools NHL organizations covet. The lingering question is whether enough offense will ever emerge to elevate him beyond a supporting role.
Current projection models remain cautious. HockeyStats.com estimates Wahlberg has a 29 percent chance of becoming a full-time NHL player and only a 6 percent probability of developing into a "star," defined as a top-20-percent forward across the league.
Those numbers don't eliminate the possibility of a breakout, but they do illustrate why Buffalo could ultimately view him as an acceptable sacrifice if the reward is a proven No. 1 center entering his prime.
At this point, everything remains speculative. Still, one thing appears increasingly clear: if the Sabres want to land Dylan Larkin, they won't simply have to outbid the rest of the league.
They'll have to convince Steve Yzerman that helping an Atlantic Division rival is worth an extraordinary return.
The Vegas Golden Knights had fought back in the second period to tie Game 4 at 3-3 and had a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead if they won the third period.
"It's just for free," Tortorella said. "It's a hard one for me in the third period."
Even though the Golden Knights had rallied, there were problems earlier in the game. They gave up two goals in the first five minutes. They took a penalty for too many men on the ice and Staal scored on a rebound in the crease.
"We have him, but then we let him off the hook," the coach said. "He's killing us in front of the net. We have to do a better job around the blue."
Tortorella liked the team's late press, "but we don't get it done."
Now the series is a best-of-three, with the Hurricanes regaining home-ice advantage.
"We need to flush it and get ready for the next game," Tortorella said.
Throughout the postseason, the Vegas Golden Knights have been excellent at clawing their way back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. But on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes weathered the storm and stood their ground. The Hurricanes eked out a 5-3 win, sending the series back to Raleigh tied 2-2.
Through two periods of play, it looked like the Golden Knights were going to pull off another improbable win. In typical fashion, they trailed by two goals on two separate occasions, but came all the way back in the second period and headed into intermission tied 3-3.
Heading into the third period, they had all the momentum. They were playing well and were brimming with confidence after some of the comeback wins they’ve rattled off this postseason.
And then, disaster struck.
The Golden Knights turned the puck over behind their net twice in a seven-second span, and the Hurricanes took them to task for it.
Despite the fact that they never had the lead, it’s hard not to look at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final as one that the Golden Knights allowed to slip away.
“Of course you feel that way when you come back from 3-1 to 3-3,” said defenseman Rasmus Andersson postgame. “And then, obviously, tied at home going into the third. For sure, you feel like that one slipped away.”
Game 5 is scheduled for Friday at 5:20 p.m. PST.
1. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
The Golden Knights take a lot of pride in their depth scoring. This team can run all four lines. It doesn’t matter the game situation; John Tortorella is comfortable sending any one of his four lines over the boards.
Because of the way they’re built, the Golden Knights don’t need Jack Eichel to score the way some other teams need their stars to score. Eichel is a point-per-game player this postseason and has largely driven the offense with his elite playmaking.
However, in the Stanley Cup Final, Eichel hasn’t looked like the dominant two-way center that the Golden Knights need him to be. He hasn’t been bad, per se, but he has just two assists and is a -3 in four games against the Hurricanes. He’s struggled with his zone entries, and he isn’t as strong on the puck as he usually is. At times, you can’t even tell that he’s on the ice.
The Golden Knights have gotten goals from their defensemen. They’ve gotten timely goals from their middle six forwards, and they’ve gotten critical goals from their fourth line. The one area in which the Golden Knights are lacking in scoring is from the Eichel line.
There’s a positive way to look at this. Eichel hasn’t taken over a game yet, but the Golden Knights are right in this thing. They didn’t capitalize on their opportunity to go up 3-1 in the series, but they’re still headed back to Raleigh tied 2-2.
But if the Golden Knights want to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, they need more out of Jack Eichel.
2. You’re Killing Me, Staal!
Through three rounds of the postseason, the Golden Knights were exceptional in front of their own net. They didn’t allow many shots through; on the rare occasion that a shotdidget through, they were there to box out their opponents. They were quick and efficient at getting to loose pucks, and they didn’t allow Carter Hart to face many second chances off rebounds.
That hasn’t been the case through four games against the Hurricanes, and the Golden Knights are paying the price. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is doing most of the damage. After scoring just two goals through the first three rounds of the postseason, Staal has five goals in four games against the Golden Knights.
“He’s killing us in front of the net, Staal is. We’ve got to do a better job around the blue,” Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella said postgame. “He’s a big man. He’s a good player. That’s where he lives. We just got to do a better job… We’ve got to be stronger; we’ve got to win that battle.”
3. …And I Took That Personally
Coming into this series, the national narrative was that this Stanley Cup Final would be, for lack of a better word, boring. Through four games, this Stanley Cup Final has been anything but.
This is the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that the first four games have all featured a team erasing a multi-goal deficit. In Game 1, the Golden Knights overcame an early two-goal lead. In Game 2, the Hurricanes erased a two-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation. In Game 3, the Hurricanes clawed back from a four-goal deficit. And tonight, the Golden Knights were the team to erase two separate two-goal deficits.
This is also just the second time in Stanley Cup Final history that the teams have combined for four or more goals in three straight regulation periods. So much for a low-scoring affair, eh?
“There’s been some crazy momentum swings, and both teams are capitalizing,” said Colton Sissons following the 5-3 loss. “These things happen. It’s hard to put one explanation on it; it’s just two teams going at it and finding ways to score. Tight games, but, yeah, higher scoring than we're used to.”
In some ways, it is quite hard to believe that it's already been 17 years since Jordan Staal scored a key shorthanded goal in Game 4 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings to help turn the tide of the series and lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to their third Cup in franchise history.
That moment proved that Staal - already an elite two-way center at 21 years old when the Penguins won that year - had that clutch gene in him. It proved that, on the NHL's biggest stage, he had the ability to come through for his team and be the catalyst it needs.
Fast forward to 2026, and Staal might be wearing a different uniform. But he is doing the same exact thing.
In the four games to open the Stanley Cup Final this season, Staal has scored in every one, and he netted two in Game 4 - including the game-winner during the third period - to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and tie the series. The 37-year-old center is now up to seven goals and 11 points in 17 playoff games this postseason, which include five goals and six points in the Final series alone.
Of course, anyone who has followed Staal's 20-year NHL career knows that he's always had a knack for coming through in big moments. He seems to have ice in his veins when the stage becomes the biggest, and that has always been the case.
JARVIS MISSES A GOLDEN CHANCE, BUT THEN STAAL WITH A DIVING GOAL TO TAKE THE LEAD 😱🚨
During the Stanley Cup Final in 2009, the Penguins went down in the series, 2-0, and they managed to pull off a win in Game 3 at home. They were back at home for Game 4, and they found themselves on the penalty kill and trailing, 2-1, midway through the second period.
And that's when Staal - already well-known for his impact shorthanded - took the puck up ice on a shorthanded opportunity, splitting the 'D' and bodying his way around all-time great defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom to power one past Red Wings' goaltender Chris Osgood and tie the game.
The last time Jordan Staal played in a Stanley Cup Final was 2009! 17 years later, the age of 37 has 3 goals in the last 4 games! Let’s go Canes pic.twitter.com/ON41o8BM3T
Staal finished with two goals and three points in that series. The Penguins went on to win that game, 4-2, and they won the series in seven games. This also capped off a revenge tour for the Penguins, as they were beaten by Detroit in the Final in 2008.
And Staal had already played a part in that revenge tour earlier in the season, when the Penguins played the Red Wings on Nov. 11, 2008, for the first time since they had lost the Cup Final to them the spring before. Staal put his team on his back, recording a third-period hat trick and pickpocketing Pavel Datsyuk in overtime to set up Ruslan Fedotenko's game-winner in what was one of the more memorable individual performances of Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby era.
He was, ultimately, dealt to the Hurricanes in the summer of 2012 - during his wedding, nonetheless - and has spent the last 14 years of his NHL career in Raleigh, registering 22 goals and 48 points in 106 playoff games since. He had 23 goals and 36 points in 73 post-season games with the Penguins, and he has 318 goals and 747 points dispersed across 1,403 regular season games in his NHL career.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound center's play for the Hurricanes in this year's final serves as a reminder to Penguins' fans just how important Staal was to the Cup run back in 2009 and to the Penguins' former core of players that helped build their foundation for success in the mid-late 2000s. Without Staal to anchor down that third-line center position during those years - and without him as a suitable injury replacement for Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for pockets during that time - the Penguins may never hae reached the pinnacle they were able to during the Crosby era.
In the present, Staal is enjoying the best playoff performance of his career. And if the Hurricanes are going to win two of these last three games in the Cup Final, he will need to find a way to continue elevating himself when the stakes are the highest.
LAS VEGAS — The Carolina-Vegas series was largely expected to be a Stanley Cup Final in which goals were at a premium and each shift felt like a march up a well-defended hill.
Yeah, that isn’t this.
Another two-goal lead went the way of the landline on Tuesday night, the go-ahead shot came from a 37-year-old on his stomach on one of the great runs in Cup final history, and the winning goalie made his first start in two months and doesn’t know if that will be his last one this postseason.
None of it makes sense and yet it all somehow does in this series that is now even after four games — probably aptly so — because of Jordan Staal’s second goal at 6:32 of the third period that came while sprawled on the ice in what became a 5-3 Hurricanes victory over for the Golden Knights.
“It’s a wild ride, isn’t it?” Staal said. “There’s a lot of emotion, lots of ups and downs.”
Now the series heads back to Carolina for Game 5 on Thursday night. The Hurricanes will potentially have two games on home ice to win their first Cup in two decades. Coach Rod Brind’Amour captained that 2006 team, and though he’s not ready to look at the big picture, he recognizes this is a unique final.
“I know I need to (appreciate it) because this doesn’t come across very often,” Brind’Amour said. “But it is pretty stressful.”
The same applies at the other end, where the 9-year-old Golden Knights chase their second championship in four years. Their position isn’t all that different from when the day started — two more wins and they’re there — but now they need to win at least once more on the road.
“We need to flush it and get ready for our next game,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “I don’t think we should be looking any farther than just the next game.”
Whichever team winds up losing can point to a number of moments that could have changed the outcome.
Jordan Staal scores his second goal of the night while outstretched on his stomach during the Hurricanes’ 5-3 Game 4 win over the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final on June 9, 2026 in Las Vegas. Getty Images
Each game until this one was decided by one goal. It appeared this one would as well until Nikolaj Ehlers deposited an empty-net goal from 187 feet.
A two-goal lead has disappeared in all four games in what has been a remarkable series in which momentum often changes at a moment’s notice. Each team has led by at least that many twice.
The 33 combined goals are tied for the third highest in a Cup final with the Islanders-Flyers series in 1980.
Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four games of the final and the ninth overall. Mike Bossy in 1982 with the New York Islanders against the Vancouver Canucks was the last player to score in the first four games of a final.
Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi makes a save on Jack Eichel during the third period of the Hurricanes’ 5-3 win over the Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 9, 2026 in Las Vegas. Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Ehlers’ goal was part of a three-point night for him, Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist and Logan Stankoven scored a goal.
Brandon Bussi started in place of Frederik Andersen in goal and made 18 saves, and including his work in relief in Game 2, Bussi has 36 saves on 40 shots. Brind’Amour said that Andersen, who did not dress, needed the rest. Pyotr Kochetkov was the backup goalie with Andersen serving as the emergency goaltender.
“If you’re going to give him a break, you need to give him a break,” Brind’Amour said. “So to me, him dressing and going through all that does not really give him a night off.”
Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden scored goals for the Golden Knights, and Carter Hart made 23 saves. Karlsson also had an assist.
The Hurricanes came out blazing, taking a 3-1 lead in the first period. Vegas nearly cut it to one, but Brayden McNabb’s goal came right after the period ended and didn’t count.
Vegas scored twice in the second to tie the game, and the Golden Knights have now outscored Carolina 9-1 in that period.
But the Golden Knights failed to add to that total, shifting home-ice advantage back to the Hurricanes.
“We knew it was going to be a tight series,” Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “We’re playing a really good team and 2-2, best out of three and fly out to Carolina (Wednesday) and take care of business in Game 5.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 09: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes lays on the ice after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of Game Four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by RJ Forbus/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Jordan Staal had two goals including an iconic moment that old time hockey fans will recognize, The Hurricanes survived another rough second period, Brandon Bussi got his first playoff start and win, and Carolina will hop the plane back to Raleigh with the Stanley Cup Final tied at two.
Rod Brind’Amour had managed to keep his decision of starting goalie under wraps for the last two days, even joking with the media about it when he was asked. Players wouldn’t bite, and neither would Bussi as the only goalie who would speak to the media. However, when the Canes skated out to warm up not only was Brandon Bussi starting, but for the first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Pyotr Kochetkov dressed and was the backup. During the game, Brind’Amour explained to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that playing Kochetkov as backup was about giving Andersen “a full amount of rest.”
Quickly the story of the game shifted from who was between the pipes to the puck once again getting into the net. For the second game this series, the Hurricanes quickly skated out to a 2-0 lead. The first goal came with only about a minute gone from the game, as Logan Stankoven was able to take a shot from Jalen Chatfield that bounced off the wall behind the goal and easily backhand the puck behind Carter Hart.
Carolina kept pushing, and it led to a quick penalty on Vegas. Shea Theodore was sent to the box for tripping Taylor Hall, and Carolina’s resurgent Power Play controlled the action during those two minutes. With the penalty winding down, Vegas made a poor clearing attempt that saw the puck get back in the hands of Alexander Nikishin. Nikishin quickly passed it back to Nikolaj Ehlers, who whipped it over to Hall. Hall then skated in front of Hart and with Hart paying too much attention to the puck, Hall whipped it over to Jackson Blake. Blake burried the shot in the open net and Carolina was again off to their 2-0 lead.
Just like the other games, though, the action wouldn’t calm down and despite making a couple of great stops, Vegas would eventually get one back thanks to Mark Stone and a bad change by the Canes. Stone did what several Golden Knights have done this series, sit at the blue line and wait for a chance to streak in and was able to out wait Bussi. After that, though, Bussi would stop the rest of the shots in the period, while the Canes would get another Power Play with a Vegas too many men penalty. This one was just Jordan Staal being big in front of Hart. Shayne Gostisbehere shot it on net and Staal was able to get the rebound from Hart and stuff it back in.
Carolina would have to kill a penalty at the end of the first, and Vegas would get a puck past Bussi at the end of the period—but the clock had clearly hit 0.0 before the puck even entered the paint, let alone clear the line. Carolina took a 3-1 lead to the locker room with a 14-6 lead on shots.
Unfortunately for Carolina their second period woes carried over even with a different goalie in net. The good news for the Hurricanes is that they ended the period tied at three instead of trailing like they had in others. The bad news was that once again Vegas just completely dominated play during the period. The Golden Knights set the tone early with the Mitch Marner line scoring again. This time, Marner was able to draw the Carolina defense deep behind Bussi, which left the rest of the team scrambling. That eventally led to William Karlsson being all alone as Stankoven had lost him, and Karlsson blasted the shot by Bussi. Carolina would get a Power Play that was easily their worst of the game, and then Vegas would dominate the Canes on a late power play that did everything but score. Like other times in this series, that Power Play gave Vegas momentum, and about 30 seconds after it finished Brett Howden shot it between K’Andre Miller’s legs and over Bussi’s shoulder.
The second period ended tied, and somehow Carolina ended with more shots than the Golden Knights, but much like Game 1 when the Canes hit the locker room, they found themselves tied with Las Vegas. But as much as Vegas has dominated the second period, the Hurricanes have dominated the third, and that script played out again with a goal that can only be described as iconic.
Vegas started the period trying to reverse the trend, dominating play, but the defense was able to block shots and Bussi made a few key saves. Then Carolina flipped the script and what can only be described as a grinding play, Seth Jarvis was able to get loose and get a breakaway. Hart made the initial stop, but the chaos threw Vegas all out of sorts as three players collapsed on Jarvis to try and recover the puck. Instead the puck rolled over to Ehlers, who flexed a pass over to Staal. At the same moment Staal was legally pushed down, but he perfectly timed swinging his stick as he was going down to direct the puck past Hart and give the Canes a 4-3 lead.
The goal evoked memories of Bobby Orr 56 years ago, a goal so iconic a statue of it sits in front of the home of the Boston Bruins.
From there, Vegas would push but Carolina’s defense held firm in perhaps their most complete effort of the Cup Final so far. The Golden Knights would pull Hart with a little under two minutes left, but Carolina held firm and then it was their turn for a good bounce off the boards. Nikolaj Ehlers would simply try to clear the puck, but it bounced off the wall, and as Vegas had collapsed to try and score, they were unable to get to the puck in time as it trickled into the empty net.
The horn would sound and Carolina claimed a 5-3 victory. Vegas actually outshot Carolina 9-5 in that period, but the Canes would win the period 2-0.
There’s no rest for either team as they’ll hop on a plane and head back to Raleigh. Game Five will be in Lenovo Center Thursday Night at 8 PM. Don’t expect any answers about who’ll be in goal for Carolina before then, and what is being called one of the best Stanley Cup Final series in history will go at least six games. No doubt the arena that Ray Ferraro called the loudest he’s been in will be dialed up even higher.
