VGK Rally With Two Goals In Second Period, Tie Carolina At 3-3 Entering Third Period In SCG Game 4 Tuesday
Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne and Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Now for the impossible task of an encore.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes played a one-goal difference game to open the Stanley Cuo Final in Game 1 and then followed that with two overtime games, including the people-can’t-stop-talking-about Game 3 won by the VGK in double overtime Saturday.
Vegas lead the series two games to one. And most are thinking this series is going at least six games, or perhaps the distance of seven games.
The games have been that close.
Carolina did its part to guarantee a Game 6 back here in Las Vegas Sunday by scoring three goals in the first period and taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
The Hurricanes struck early with a goal by Logan Stankoven only 66 seconds into the game. Jackson Blake scored for Carolina less than 2:30 later. After a Mark Stone goal cut the VGK deficit to 2-1, the Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal tallied a power play score for the Carolina 3-1 advantage after the first period.
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LVSportsBiz,com spoke with ESPN broadcaster and NHL insider Kevin Weekes who discussed the VGK strategy of going big on acquiring bigtime players like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
Weekes talked with VGK owner Bill Foley nine years ago when the franchise’s players were picked in the expansion draft.
Even then there was a swing for the fences attitude and it’s paid off with three NHL Final appearances in the team’s nine years. Weekes comapred the VGK Cup Final appearances to the Cup wins by the Los Angeles Kings more than a decade ago.
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It became a one-goal game when VGK center William Karlsson scored only 4:22 into the middle stanza.
And then there was that man again — Brett Howden scored his amazing 14th goal of the postseason to deadlock this Game 4 at three apiece.
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