06/09/26 11:55:00
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06/09 23:53 CDT Veteran Staal scoring at a pace not seen in the Stanley Cup
Final since Bossy in 1982
Veteran Staal scoring at a pace not seen in the Stanley Cup Final since Bossy
in 1982
By W.G. RAMIREZ
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- 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, the 20-year veteran's winning goal on Tuesday night was anything but
simple. 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's 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 up as the winner in the
5-3 victory.
"For a second, I wasn't sure if it exactly went in, and I heard everyone go
quiet," said Staal, who lay face down on the ice after his acrobatic goal. "I
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."
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 "no lead is safe," the Hurricanes have to
pounce on every opportunity.
"There are fine lines of making plays, and we have to make big plays, there's
no question," Staal said. "But it's a simple game that we can run, and when you
know when they maybe call uncle, and you jump on it. And that's what they've
done to us very well, as well. It's 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.
"He's killing us in front of the net, Staal," Golden Knights coach John
Tortorella said. "So, we have got to do a better job around the blue."
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.
"I don't think big picture right now, it's too hard to think like that," Staal
said. "It's just like, my goodness, it's the next shift, next play, next game,
next everything. And that's all that's running through my brain, is how do we
get two more wins.
"And that's it."
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
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