RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes not only reclaimed home-ice edge via their Game 4 victory on Tuesday night but also seized fresh momentum heading into the Stanley Cup Final.

Yet the Vegas Golden Knights remain unfazed. They have put behind them the missed chance at a potential series-clinching blow after holding a 3-1 lead. They welcome the return to the road, where they stand 6-2 on the season away from home and already own a win in Raleigh. Above all, they trust that the championship rings waiting in their locker room will prove decisive in the closing games of this matchup.

"We have plenty of players who have endured extended playoff journeys," defenseman Shea Theodore said. "We have faced difficult series and visited some challenging arenas. We are eager to resume the battle."

Resolve matters, yet delivery counts more. Here are four approaches the Golden Knights can adopt to restore their rhythm and claim the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history.

The Eichel Line Seeks Its Spotlight

Is he injured? Has Jaccob Slavin worn him down? Does he require a line change?

Observers offer various explanations for Jack Eichel's modest output of two assists across four Stanley Cup Final contests while posting a minus-3 rating. He recorded the primary assist on Ivan Barbashev's Game 1 tally and on Tomas Hertl's power-play goal in Game 3. Notably, those represent the two victories for Vegas in the series.

Strong indications point to Carolina's defensive approach against Eichel, Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev rather than any issue with the Vegas center. The Golden Knights control just 38.7 percent of shot attempts and 45.5 percent of expected goals with Eichel on the ice and have been outscored 5-2. Before this series, Vegas posted 47.5 percent of shot attempts and 49.7 percent of expected goals with Eichel, outscoring foes 15-11.

Eichel faced Slavin (7:52) and partner Jalen Chatfield (8:46) frequently in Game 4.

"Eichel brings speed and dynamism, creating numerous plays, while his wingers can fire from the slot," Slavin said Wednesday. "It comes down to applying pressure. When we stay tight, they cannot execute their preferred plays. All five skaters contribute."

Coach John Tortorella inserted Mark Stone alongside Eichel and Barbashev. Eichel and Dorofeyev, who lacks a point since Game 2 versus Colorado, shared just 1:19 of ice time in Game 4.

Reuniting with Stone could benefit Eichel. Their unit with Barbashev averaged 4.6 goals per 60 minutes in the regular season across 364 minutes and posted a 64.8 percent goals-for rate, per Evolving Hockey.

In the playoffs, Eichel ranks second on the Golden Knights with 20 points. That stands as solid production. Less impressive: a player who netted 27 goals in 74 regular-season games has managed only three goals in his past 34 playoff appearances.

"Jack has not found the net, yet he came close tonight with a chance on the faceoff that struck the crossbar," Tortorella said after Game 4. "They are generating opportunities, but finishing remains essential."

Extend Play Across the Ice

Both clubs' defensive structures leave them open to long stretch passes. No team surrendered more on average during the regular season than the Golden Knights at 21.84 successful stretch passes per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. The Hurricanes ranked sixth (19.53). The pattern holds in the playoffs for both Vegas (25.4) and Carolina (23.9) through three rounds.

In the Stanley Cup Final, however, Vegas reduced stretch passes allowed (21.7 per 60) while the Hurricanes continued at a notable rate (22.2). This showed clearly in Game 4, where the Golden Knights completed 22 stretch passes against nine for Carolina. That produced 12 rush shots, above their prior average of 10 per game in the first three contests, according to Stathletes.

Vegas opened the scoring when Mark Stone converted a stretch pass from Shea Theodore that beat three defenders.

"That play resulted from a misread. Our coverage was positioned, yet they executed well," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Credit is due for an elite pass to an elite player."

Vegas should replicate such plays more often. They matched Carolina with 12 rush shots and one breakaway at 5-on-5 in Game 4.

Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall compared defending these stretch passes to playing defensive back in football.

"You can drop back to limit the long bombs, similar to zone coverage and anticipating developments," he said. "Still, their speed and size allow them to get behind us, and that remains a core element of their game."

Carter Hart Needs Improvement

While Carolina's goaltending has drawn questions throughout the Final, Carter Hart's performance has faced less examination.

He stands 2-2 with an .861 save percentage and 3.60 goals-against average. This follows a 12-4 mark with a .924 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average across his prior 16 games.

Before the Final, Hart posted a 2.19 GAA and plus-0.05 goals saved above expected at 5-on-5. Versus Carolina, those figures sit at 3.21 GAA and minus-1.03 goals saved above expected at 5-on-5. Hart has allowed four goals in each of the four Final games, a feat he achieved only four times in the previous 16 outings.

Per Stathletes, Hart's save percentage on scoring chances (.743), slot shots (.773) and inner slot shots (.750) all declined sharply from earlier rounds.

Why has Hart avoided greater scrutiny? Three possible reasons exist:

1. Hart appears stronger next to Frederik Andersen, whose play deteriorated in the Final (4.35 GAA, minus-1.71 expected goals at 5-on-5), leading to his removal in Game 4.

2. The crease belongs to Hart. Adin Hill has not played since April 9, and his regular-season numbers (.870 save percentage) fall short of backup standards.

3. Hart remains Tortorella's choice, dating to their time with the Flyers.

As anticipated, Tortorella has offered no criticism of his goaltender. Comments included "Carter has played very well" before Game 3 and "made key saves at key times" after the Game 1 win. Yet Hart has not drawn the same level of inquiry as Brind'Amour's netminders.

The peak came during Wednesday's media session, when Tortorella fielded a question on Carolina's momentum from the goalie switch rather than any discussion of Hart.

At the series outset, Hart drew mention as a Conn Smythe candidate alongside Mitch Marner should Vegas claim the Cup. That talk has faded.

Perhaps thriving in this high-scoring series - the fourth-highest after four games in NHL history with 33 total goals - asks too much of any goaltender. Or perhaps the play in net on both sides fuels the offensive output.

Close Out Periods More Effectively

The Golden Knights have stayed competitive in first periods, getting outscored 5-3. That qualifies as a positive result against Carolina, the top first-period scoring team in the regular season (97 goals) with a plus-33 differential in the opening frame. Vegas started slowly during the regular season, ranking 27th in first-period goals (62) with a minus-18 differential.

Vegas has dominated second periods in the series, outscoring Carolina 9-1, excluding disallowed goals.

The challenge lies in third periods, where Carolina holds a 10-3 scoring edge, aided by their four-goal comeback in Game 3. Vegas led the NHL with 108 third-period goals in the regular season, just ahead of Carolina (105). Before the Final, Vegas had scored 25 third-period goals and carried a plus-9 differential through 16 games.

Finishing stronger versus the Hurricanes may ultimately allow them to close out the series.