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Jordan Staal has been more than a leader for the Hurricanes in the NHL Stanley Cup final originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In this Stanley Cup final, Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has emerged as a real star for his team when it matters most.
With the series tied 2-2 ahead of Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the current state of this final may look different for the Hurricanes without Staal.
Overall, Staal is known for his leadership, experience, responsibility behind the puck, and status as a true faceoff specialist.
But lately, Staal has been doing a little more than chipping in with winning draws and pats on the back.
Following the first four games of this final series, Staal leads all Hurricanes in points and leads the series in goals. Thanks to a two-goal performance in Game 4, Staal has five goals and six points, scoring in each game so far.
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Staal, 37, now has seven goals and 11 points in 17 appearances this NHL post-season. But in this Stanley Cup final, his scoring touch means a little more because he chimes in when the Hurricanes really need a goal.
There was a prime example of that in Tuesday’s Game 4 when Staal scored an incredible game-winning goal from his stomach with a backhand shot.
The puck bounced in front of the Golden Knights’ net, where Staal was left unmarked. It was a tough bounce to handle, but as Staal was falling over and losing his balance, he swatted at the puck on his backhand while facing the ice surface, lobbing a diving Carter Hart in the process.
This wild goal gave Carolina a 4-3 lead in the third period, and Vegas wasn’t able to answer from that point.
In Game 2, the Canes’ first win of the series, Staal had another impressive and clutch moment for his team.
MORE: Can Jordan Staal Really Win The Conn Smythe? Could That Make Him A Hall Of Famer?
The Golden Knights had a 2-0 lead with a goal in the first and second periods. In the third, the Hurricanes scored three goals in about five minutes, earning a 3-2 lead. Staal scored that third go-ahead goal with a deflection on the power play.
Vegas’ Mark Stone scored later in the period to send it to overtime, with Carolina eventually winning the game, but Staal’s moment was critical at the time, and still is in hindsight.
In addition to what Staal brings to his team on a nightly basis, his emergence offensively has been vital, and could arguably be the reason the Canes are tied in this series.
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