Why Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal is ‘having so much fun’ in Stanley Cup Final vs. VGK

Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal is having quite a journey in the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final.

The 37-year-old Staal seems to be feeling unstoppable in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights, and he played like it in Game 4 on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Staal lit the lamp not just once but twice to lead Carolina to a series-tying 5-3 victory. It was also the fourth game in a row that he found the back of the net. So far in the NHL finals, he has five goals and an assist for six points.

Amid the pressure and the toll of the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native is finding joy on the ice.

“I’m having so much fun out there. Just love grinding with these guys and just finding ways to get wins, and finding a way to get that mug,” the veteran skater said in a postgame interview on SportsCenter.

The Hurricanes struck early in Game 4, with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake scoring back-to-back goals in the opening period. Mark Stone put the Golden Knights on the board a little over seven minutes into the contest before Staal lit the lamp on the power play minutes later.

Vegas tied the score at 3-3 with two goals in the second frame, but Staal gave the lead back to the Hurricanes for good with an even-strength score in the third period.

Staal has won a Stanley Cup before, but it was with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Raising the Cup with the Hurricanes after all these years would be extremely sweet for the vet, to say the least.

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