Rachel Barkley
Following one of the most insane games in recent memory in the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 4 in T-Mobile Arena as they hope to even the series once more.
The game is scheduled for 8:00 PM EDT.
Saturday, the Hurricanes had one of their worst second periods of the postseason campaign as they allowed four goals (technically six, though two were removed for offside and goalie interference). However, the third period was nothing short of crazy as the Hurricanes stormed back for the three fastest goals in Stanley Cup Final history – scoring a trio of goals in just 39 seconds. They then went on to score again near the end of the frame, forcing overtime.
However, the Golden Knights got the win in double overtime, with Shea Theodore launching a slapshot from the point which took a wonky bounce off the endboards and into the net, giving them the 2-1 series lead.
Nonetheless, the Hurricanes’ resiliency became the talk of the town after they nearly became the only team to overcome a third-period four-goal deficit to win the game in SCF history.
You can read all about it here!
Injury Updates
There is good news for the Hurricanes from Monday’s practice as William Carrier skated with his usual line in full-contact gear. After landing a hit on Jeremy Lauzon in the first period of Game 3, he returned to the bench clutching his arm and soon left for the locker room. While he returned in the second period, he missed his line’s final shift of the frame and proceeded to be ruled out for the rest of the game in the third period due to an upper-body injury.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights may be without Noah Hanifin and Brayden McNabb, who were both absent from practice – both of their statuses remain without update. Hanifin missed several shifts in Game 3 after a hit from Jordan Martinook, while McNabb played Game 3 with a cage after taking a slapshot to the face in Game 2.
In the Crease
For Vegas, it is all but certain that Carter Hart will start in net. However, for Carolina, it is a mystery entirely.
At the start of the third period of Game 3, Brandon Bussi had his NHL postseason debut, coming in relief of Frederik Andersen, who allowed four goals on 16 shots. By the end of the game, Bussi ended up logging over five more minutes than Andersen, while making 18 saves on 19 shots. His reactive style seemed to match up well against Vegas’ speed. As good as Andersen has been, the showing Bussi put up truly made it clear that Carolina has a big decision going into Game 4.
Monday, Andersen was absent from practice, with Bussi taking the net closest to the Hurricanes’ bench and Pyotr Kochetkov covering the net on the other end. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed it was merely a maintenance day for Andersen, and that while he had made a decision on who would start Game 4, he would ‘keep it quiet’.
“It’s the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold on to,” Brind’Amour said jokingly. “It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it.”
Projected Carolina Hurricanes Lines
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Jordan Martinook
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Seth Jarvis
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson
Defense
Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin
Goaltenders
Brandon Bussi / Frederik Andersen
Projected Vegas Golden Knights Lines
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons – Mark Stone
Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
Defense
Shea Theodore – Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton – Kaedan Korczak
Jeremy Lauzon – Dylan Coghlan
Goaltenders
Carter Hart / Adin Hill
Special Teams
Carolina Hurricanes power play: 15.6% (12th)
Carolina Hurricanes penalty kill: 91.9% (2nd)
Vegas Golden Knights power play: 21.8% (5th)
Vegas Golden Knights penalty kill: 83.9% (8th, down one spot from previous game)
Hurricanes Game Notes
After scoring a goal in each game of the Stanley Cup Final, Jordan Staal became just the second player in SCF history at age 37 or older (joining Brad Marchand) to score in the first three games of the championship series.
The Hurricanes’ usual top line players – Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis – had been a frequent point of criticism as of late due to a recent lack of production. Interestingly, each of them are now riding two-game point streaks, with both Jarvis and Svechnikov having gotten a goal apiece and Aho leading them in points with three assists.
The Hurricanes’ power play is heating up at the right time. Having scored just seven power play goals throughout their first three series, they have already added three more just between Games 2 and 3.
Though the Stanley Cup Final will only be available via national broadcasts, local play-by-play announcer Mike Maniscalco and analyst Tripp Tracy will continue to call games on the Hurricanes’ radio partner. 99.9 The Fan.
How To Watch
TV: ABC, SN, CBC, TVAS
Radio: 99.9 The Fan
