'They Don't Earn Their Winning Goal': Tortorella Breaks Down Golden Knights' D-Zone Panic In Game 4 Cup Final Loss

The Vegas Golden Knights entered Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final with a chance to seize a 3-1 series lead.

Instead, a defensive-zone giveaway by Shea Theodore in the third period triggered a moment of panic that allowed Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal to score the game-winning goal in a 5-3 Canes victory that evened the series at 2-2.

The sequence unfolded with the game tied 3-3 after the Golden Knights erased a two-goal deficit in the second period.

Stanley Cup Final: We've Got A Series As Hurricanes Storm Back In Game 4

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi stopped 18 shots, and Jordan Staal scored twice in 5-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights, tying up the best-of-seven series 2-2.

Despite the loss, Tortorella saw fight in his group.

"I thought we battled back probably, and I thought the third period is probably our best period," he said. "We worked hard to get back into it. And I thought we had a really good third period. Jack (Eichel) hits the crossbar. We hit a post. But we don't get it done. So we need to flush it and get ready for our next game. I don't think we should be looking any farther than just the next game."

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have life in this series when there have been stretches where it looked like the Golden Knights had them on the mat for a quick series, only to get up off the floor.

"I feel like the whole series has been a momentum series where if you get one, you get two, or if you're down two, you come back, and all of a sudden you get three," Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. "It's been kind of the same all series so, when they get one, we have to find a way to stop the bleeding."

All four games have seen one team jump to a two-goal lead or bigger, just to see the other side tie it up. It's been wild and fun, and it deserves to go at least six games, which are now guaranteed.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:00 AM.