RALEIGH, N.C. — Taylor Hall had a prediction on what will ultimately be the difference in a series in which the his Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights have combined for 33 goals — the second-highest goal total the Stanley Cup Final has ever seen through four games.
“Not ground-breaking news, but it’s going to be the team that allows one or two that’s going to be the team that kind of takes over the series — we’re hoping that it’s us,” said Hall, whose typically airtight club has gone from allowing 1.62 goals in the first three rounds to an even four goals per game in the Final.
“I don’t think you can expect a nine-goal game again tonight.”
One problem in particular for the Hurricanes is the fact they’ve been outscored 9-1 in the second period.
“First periods have been really good for us, it’s the second that we’ve kind of allowed some goals and ultimately momentum to take over,” Hall said.
“So, bit of a focus for us.”
What’s more incredible, or improbable: an NHL team coming back from a four-goal deficit in the third period of a Stanley Cup Final like the Canes did in Game 3, or an NBA team coming back from 29 like the Knicks on Wednesday night?
“Who won the game?” was Jalen Chatfield’s simple answer.
“I mean, we didn’t win. They did. None of us are gonna think back on that game like it was a great experience. Obviously we lost, so it hurts.”
“They got the job done, and we didn’t fully complete it, so it’s not the same,” he said.
Jordan Martinook disagreed.
“The hockey part seems more incredible,” he said. “The way the NBA has gone with three-pointers — if you start making a bunch you can start erasing big chunks of a lead.”
Nobody was more in demand after Thursday morning’s skate than Jack Eichel, who had a massive gathering waiting for him in the locker room due to increasing pressure on him to be a difference-maker.
Eichel has yet to score in the series and has just two assists on a top line that has only scored two of the team’s 16 goals against Carolina.
“Had a few chances so far this series, and obviously want to see them go to make a difference for the team, however that is,” said Eichel, who hit the crossbar in Game 4.
“Knowing that I need to be better in order for us to win. You always want to be better. I think I’m probably my hardest critic. I always believe I can play better and do more and contribute more.”
Ehlers finds an empty net… finally
Much love was showered upon captain Jordan Staal’s two-goal performance Tuesday, which included an all-time winner.
But with Vegas pulling the goalie and pressing to tie late — and no lead safe in this series — Nikolaj Ehlers’ empty-net insurance marker was as important as it was bizarre.
The Hurricanes winger was nearly behind Brandon Bussi’s net when his hard, desperate clearing attempt took a favourable ricochet off a stanchion and scooted all the way into the Golden Knights’ vacant cage.
Ehlers, you may recall, clanged a crossbar on a clear empty-net attempt during the Eastern Conference final and missed depositing another easy ENG in the regular season. His teammates were quick to remind him after his luck turned.
“The guys have been making a little fun of that after the one (in Game 4),” Ehlers smiles. “Apparently, I don’t like having the empty net right in front of me. So that one felt pretty good.”
Now that we’ve whittled this potential classic to a best-of-three, how important is winning Thursday’s Game 5 — mathematically speaking?
Well, when a best-of-seven Cup Final is tied 2-2, the Game 5 victor goes on to lift Lord Stanley’s mug nearly 75 per cent of the time (20-7; .741). Those odds jump to 83.3 per cent when the home team pulls ahead (15-3 record). When the road team steals Game 5, however, it’s won the Cup just 55.6 per cent of the time (5-4).
Still, home coach Rod Brind’Amour sounds far from comfortable since reacquiring home-ice advantage.
“You wouldn’t get here if you didn’t play well on the road,” the coach warned.
The Golden Knights are 6-2 all-time in best-of-seven series when tied 2-2, but they’ve never won a series when trailing 3-2. The Hurricanes are 8-7 all-time when tied 2-2 and a commanding 10-1 when leading a series 3-2.
Ya’ll forgot about K’Andre
K’Andre Miller has only registered one assist, but the Hurricanes’ most-used skater has quietly had a significant impact on the series, logging more than 101 minutes already.
Absorbing hard matchups, blocking shots and managing to tilt the ice toward 59 per cent of shot attempts despite starting just 36 per cent of his shifts in the offensive zone, Miller is inching toward Jaccob Slavin levels of importance on this D corps.
“He’s incredible,” Seth Jarvis beamed. “That guy is probably the most underrated part of our run so far, just the way he’s able to eat minutes. He reminds me a lot of Slava with the skating, his length, and the offence he brings is awesome. Just the way he’s able to move the puck himself, create plays like you saw against Montreal a few times, and the way he controls the game back there has been massive.”
Brind’Amour has no reason to shake things up after the series’ lone multi-goal victory. Expect the Canes to roll with the same lineup that defeated Vegas in Game 4 — and that must include Brandon Bussi between the pipes. Frederik Andersen, who missed Game 4, hit the ice before the team skate, prompting Brind’Amour to suggest “everyone is available.”
Svechnikov – Aho – Martinook
Hall – Stankoven – Blake
Ehlers – Staal – Jarvis
Carrier – Jankowski – Robinson
Slavin – Chatfield
Miller – Walker
Gostisbehere – Nikishin
Barbashev – Eichel – Stone
Howden – Karlsson – Marner
Hertl – Sissons – Dorofeyev
Smith – Dowd – Kolesar
McNabb – Theodore
Hanifin – Andersson
Coghlan – Lauzon
