LAS VEGAS — Jordan Staal is one of just two Carolina Hurricanes who has won the Stanley Cup. The 37-year-old captain is doing everything he can to win another one and that includes showing off his scoring skill.

Staal scored twice, including the game winner in the third period, as Carolina defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday to tie the series at 2-2. 

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Game 5 is Thursday in Raleigh.

“It’s a good time to get hot,” Staal said after the win. “I just want to contribute any way I can.”

He’s contributing in every way.

“He’s doing it all right now, and it’s a lot of fun to watch,” forward Jackson Blake said. “That’s what you want your captain to do. He’s done so many good things for us. He’s so good defensively, but he’s scoring every night. Winning faceoffs, penalty killing, on the power play, you name it, he’s doing it for us. He’s been special.”

So, too, has the entire series, featuring a barrage of goals, multiple comebacks and frenetic action. Game 4 was no different — even with a new starting goalie for the Hurricanes.

Staal is the oldest, most experienced player for Carolina. Goaltender Brandon Bussi is one of the least. The rookie, with 39 career games played in the NHL, got his first start of the playoffs for Carolina, replacing Frederik Andersen, ending days of speculation about what Rod Brind’Amour would do in net after a 5-4 double overtime loss in Game 4 in which Andersen was pulled after the second period.

Brind’Amour said he made the call after a one-minute discussion with Hurricanes goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder. Schonfelder told him Andersen needed a day off. Andersen didn’t dress for Game 4.

“If you’re going to give him a break, you need to give him a break,” Brind’Amour said. “To me, him dressing and going through all that, that’s not really giving him a night off.”

Bussi was tested early and came up with big saves throughout the night, including in the final seconds.

And the Hurricanes needed them all after squandering leads of 2-0 and 3-1. Each game in the series has featured a multi-goal comeback to at least tie the game.

The 36 goals through four games is the third most in Stanley Cup Final history, trailing only 1981 and 1918. Staal has five goals through four games and has played himself into contention for the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff’s most valuable player.

His top competition, should the Hurricanes win the series, might be the guy who started the scoring just 66 seconds into Game 4.

Logan Stankoven scored his 11th goal of the playoffs on a backhander that came off a rebound on a shot by Jalen Chatfield. Chatfield’s wide shot bounced hard off the boards to Stankoven, who deposited it for another quick lead from the Hurricanes. 

Jackson Blake made it 2-0 off a nice pass from Taylor Hall across the goal. Blake shot it high in the net past Vegas goalie Carter Hart.

Bussi was tested early, stopping a breakaway and two immediate rebounds. But Vegas’ Mark Stone got behind the Carolina defense and deked Bussi at the 7:22 mark of the first period.

Staal scored a power-play goal later in the period off a rebound. Hart saved a high shot from defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere at the point, but Staal cleaned up the rebound. Staal has scored a goal in all four games of the series. He is the first player to score in the first four final games since 1982.

“I’ve been telling guys to get to the hoop for I don’t know how long,” Staal said. “Good things happen around there and, especially, the way they play, there's opportunity to get there. You just need a bounce. On the power-play goal, it went off four different guys and just sat there for me.”

Said Vegas coach John Tortorella: “He’s killing us in front of the net.”

Trailing 3-1, Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb appeared to score in the final second of the first period, but the puck crossed the goal line after the clock hit 0:00.

“I had no idea. I was fortunate it didn’t count,” Bussi said.

The game followed a similar script to earlier ones, including Vegas dominating the second period. The Golden Knights have outscored Carolina 9-1 in the period through four games, including 2-0 in Game 4.

Vegas cut its deficit to 3-2 on William Karlsson’s goal less than five minutes into the second period. Mitch Marner carried the puck into the Carolina zone and attracted two defenders before passing to Rasmus Andersson. Andersson took the puck behind the net and found Karlsson in the slot for a one-timer that beat Bussi.

Vegas then tied it late on a wrist shot by Brett Howden, his 14th of the postseason. Howden had 12 goals in the regular season. 

The Hurricanes, as they have all series, turned it around in the third. Carolina has outscored Vegas 10-3 in the series. Staal’s falling down backhander put the Hurricanes back in the lead 6:32 into the third.

It came after a Vegas turnover in its own zone led to Seth Jarvis alone in front of Hart. Jarvis couldn’t score, but the scrum for the loose puck sent it and sent it to Nikolaj Ehlers, who kind of whiffed on his shot or pass. Staal, falling, was able to backhand the puck past a diving Hart for the lead.

It was Staal’s seventh goal of the playoffs. He celebrated face down on the ice.

“He does everything, and I just think it’s how bad he wants to win,” Blake said. “We all want to win so bad, but he’s playing like it’s his last games right now. That’s how good he’s playing.”

Staal won a Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. His brother, Eric, was on the Hurricanes’ only Cup-winning team in 2006 and his jersey hangs in the rafters at Lenovo Center. Jordan Staal joined the Hurricanes in 2012 in a trade, suffering through years of regular-season struggles before eight straight years of postseason appearances that fell short.

Ehlers added an empty net goal for the final margin.

Now the series shifts back to Raleigh, and the Hurricanes have home-ice advantage in what amounts to a best-of-three series for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

“Just focusing on what we have to do to keep going and how we’re going to win this game,” Staal said. “That’s all I’ve been focused on. We just have to win games — two more.”