Stanley Cup Final Recap

Stanley Cup Final

New Jersey Devils - 2 @ Arizona Coyotes - 3

• Series tied 2-2

The Arizona Coyotes have levelled their series against the New Jersey Devils with a Game 4 victory. 

There was a second when it seemed like the Coyotes were done for in this series, that New Jersey was going to waltz their way to the Stanley Cup. But that was it, only a second. Because with two victories on home ice, Arizona has served noticed yet again that they aren't going down without a fight. 

Really, we shouldn't be surprised at this point. Down 3-2 in the first round against the Oilers, they took the next two to advance. They defeated the Ducks in the second round in 6, the same amount of games it took the Devils to dispactch the Blue Jackets. And just last round we all rode the 'Yotes off when Winnipeg won 3 straight and were a lock to make the final until they weren't. 

So now, the Stanley Cup Final is a best-of-3 with New Jersey still holding home-ice advantage which could be a huge factor as we've seen so far. 

Another trend we've seen so far in the series is that the team who scores first goes on to win, and that continued in Game 4. Vladimir Tarasenko kept the crowd rocking when he opened the scoring early in the first. 

The second period would see the two sides exchange goals 27 seconds apart. Johnny Gaudreau's 9th of the playoffs put the Coyotes up 2-0, but Dylan Larkin quickly erased that lead with his 10th. 

Tyson Jost has made the most of his opportunities since being reinserted into the line-up. Playing on the fourth line between Joel Kiviranta and Mathieu Perrault, Jost scored his fourth of the playoffs that put the Coyotes up 3-1 midway through the third. 

With under a minute left in the period and with Jamie Oleksiak serving a 2 minute minor for interference, the Devils made one last final push to tie things up. Oliver Bjorkstrand would tally on the powerplay with 20 seconds left but that's as close as they'd get as Jost's goal would hold up as the game-winner. 

THREE STARS

Vladimir Tarasenko (ARI): 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 2 hits, 3 shots, 1 blocked shot, 19:58 TOI
Dylan Larkin (NJD): 1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 8 shots, 2 giveaways, 1 takeaway, 20:01 TOI
Tyson Jost (ARI): 1 goal (GWG), +1, 2 shots, 1 giveaway, 11:13 TOI