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Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal picked a great time to get hot.

Staal has five goals through the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, helping keep the best-of-7 series tied heading into Game 5 on Thursday evening in Raleigh, N.C.

“I just want to contribute any way I can, and the puck’s going in for me,” Staal said. “I’ll take it.”

Staal, 37, has scored in each of the first four games of the series, becoming the first to do so in the Stanley Cup Final since Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders in 1982.

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

Staal has been doing most of his damage in front of the crease. The team captain was in that area in the third period of Game 4 on Tuesday night when he swept the puck into the net as he was falling to the ice, breaking a 3-3 tie in a 5-3 win.

“That fourth goal for us was incredible,” Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven said. “I don’t know how he found a way to put that in. Yeah, he just does all the little things right, and we’re in a position like this because of him, so we’re going to need him to keep doing that.”

Vegas coach John Tortorella said Staal’s impact has been game-changing.

“He’s killing us in front of the net,” Tortorella said. “He’s a big man. He’s a good player. That’s where he lives. We’ve got to do a better job.”

Maintaining a lead also has been a struggle for both teams.

The Hurricanes took an early 2-0 lead in Game 1 only to lose 5-4.

Vegas held a 2-0 lead entering the third period of Game 2 before losing 4-3 in overtime.

The Golden Knights blew a 4-0 lead at the start of the third period in Game 3 before regrouping to win 5-4 in overtime, and Carolina had a 3-1 lead in Game 4 before Vegas came back to tie it with two goals in the second period.

“That’s what’s crazy about this series, to be honest,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s just very unpredictable. Things are happening that I know I haven’t seen in succession. It’s been crazy.”

With a travel day Wednesday, neither team will get a chance to take the ice until the morning skate Thursday.

Tortorella said it’s important that the Golden Knights keep their focus ahead.

“Just getting ready for the next game. Flush this,” Tortorella said. “We worked hard to get back into it and I thought we had a really good third period. Jack (Eichel) hits the crossbar, we hit a post, but we don’t get it done.

“So, we need to flush it and get ready for our next game. I don’t think we should be looking any further than just the next game. So, we’ll get on the plane (Wednesday) and get ready to play.”

For the Hurricanes, the burning question of who will start in goal in Game 5 will have to wait until Thursday.

In his first playoff start in Game 4, Brandon Bussi made 18 saves in place of struggling veteran Frederik Andersen. Andersen didn’t even dress as Bussi’s backup, with Pyotr Kochetkov serving that role.

“We’re not going to discuss the lineup,” Brind’Amour told reporters Wednesday. “We haven’t even met as a staff or anything to figure out what we’re doing. It’s too early in the morning.”

TEMPE, Ariz. — Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor tore a meniscus during OTAs and will miss “quite a bit of time” and could potentially miss the entire season, coach Mike LaFleur said Wednesday.

Proctor was not on the field for Tuesday’s minicamp practice, and LaFleur made the announcement Wednesday in response to a question about Proctor’s health.

LaFleur didn’t want to commit to Proctor missing the entire year but said it’s definitely a possibility.

“So, that’s the one that sucks,” LaFleur said.

Proctor was the Cardinals’ fourth-round pick out of Southeast Louisiana. Despite going to a Football Championship Subdivision school, Proctor stood out to the Cardinals because of his ability to step up and play well in games against FBS opponents.

TORONTO — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adolis García left Wednesday night’s 7-4 win at the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning after making consecutive throws to home plate on sacrifice flies.

Steward Berroa came on for García, who was diagnosed with a pulled muscle in his right shoulder.

“We’ll probably get some imaging tomorrow, find out the true severity of it,” manager Don Mattingly said. “Hope for the best and see what happens.”

García entered play Wednesday with four outs above average, third most among MLB right fielders. His four outfield assists are tied for sixth in baseball.

“He’s been a weapon for us out there in right field,” Mattingly said. “He’s been amazing out there.”

García went 0-for-3 with a walk before departing. He’s batting .195 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs this season.

He signed a $10 million, one-year contract with the Phillies last December.

ALAMEDA, California, June 10 : The weight of expectations will be on Turkey’s shoulders when they return to the World Cup after 24 years for their Group D opener against Australia, Socceroos defender Milos Degenek said on Wednesday.

Turkey have frequently featured in the European Championship, but have only played at the World Cup twice, making their debut in 1954 and then going on to finish third in their second appearance in 2002.

By contrast, Australia have played in the last five World Cups, twice making it to the last 16.

“I think Turkey’s got a lot of pressure as well because they haven’t been to a major tournament World Cup since 2002,” Degenek told reporters ahead of Saturday’s match in Vancouver.

“There’s a lot hope on them and a lot pressure, but we’re ready for that definitely.”

Degenek was also in Australia’s squad at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and said their World Cup pedigree could prove decisive.

“I think this is 26 players (that) have never experienced a World Cup from the Turkey side,” the 32-year-old added.

“And we in our squad have, what, nine players that already have experienced a World Cup. So we’ve got a bit of experience in that regard…

“They’ve obviously got experienced footballers who play at the top level at the best clubs in the world… I’m saying we’ve got a little bit more experience in terms of national team competition football.”

NEW YORK, June 10 : OG Anunoby’s late game-winner will go down as the greatest play in New York Knicks history, coach Mike Brown said, as the home team clinched the biggest comeback ever in the NBA Finals to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 on Wednesday. 

The Knicks clawed their way back from a 29-point deficit as the once-demoralized Madison Square Garden crowd erupted with deafening joy when the London-born Anunoby tipped in All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson’s missed three-point attempt with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.

“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said. “It was just unbelievable.”

The Knicks will travel to San Antonio for Game 5 and are just one win away from ending a title drought that dates back to 1973, with even the jaded New York fans ready to believe.

“I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history in Knicks basketball,” Brown said.

Few could have predicted the outcome at halftime, as the Spurs put on a boastful display of their prowess with an NBA Finals record 14 three-pointers made in the first two quarters and their towering French superstar Victor Wembanyama having shaken off the nerves he showed at moments in the first two games of the series. 

With pop sensation Taylor Swift on the sidelines, kicking the Knicks’ already formidable “Celebrity Row” into another stratosphere of fame, New York began to blossom under the Garden’s bright lights, with Anunoby and Brunson leading the charge with the lead trimmed to 15 points after the third.

“We know it’s a game of runs. We’re a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve come back plenty of times when we’re behind. Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated,” Anunoby said. “Just staying with it, cut down to 18, cut it down to 6, push it through. It’s a 48-minute game, just play till the end.”

Back-to-back threes from Brunson and Jose Alvarado late in the fourth put the Knicks just one point behind, as the New York fans who shelled out top-dollar for the eye-poppingly expensive tickets got their money’s worth.

“I challenged a lot of our guys today and OG was one of the guys I challenged,” Brown said, marveling at the athleticism that clinched the game. “I told OG, as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight.” 

“That was a huge offensive rebound. Huge offensive rebound. He took on the challenge, and he went and won the game for us.”

The Knicks play the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in San Antonio. 

The New York Giants’ offseason moves at receiver have raised suspicion that Malik Nabers might not be ready for Week 1 as he continues to rehab from the second surgery on his injured knee.

However, general manager Joe Schoen told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports that he remains optimistic about Nabers’ timeline, planning for the star wideout to be on the field Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.

“I still think he’ll be fine Week 1,” Schoen told Epstein on Monday. “So we’ll see. He’s trending in the right direction. Again, these things take time, so it’s not instant. Every patient is different.”

Nabers suffered an ACL tear in late September and underwent a second cleanup surgery to remove scar tissue earlier this offseason. News of the second surgery throttled down the questions about Nabers’ timeline during June workouts.

Big Blue spent the offseason restocking the wideout room. Darius Slayton returns, and the Giants added Calvin Austin III and Darnell Mooney early in free agency and drafted Malachi Fields in the third round. Recently, they signed a trio of pass catchers in Odell Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios (also a potential returner). The recent moves added to speculation that Nabers might not be ready to face Dallas.

Schoen believes that the collective receiver room can provide enough weapons, along with tight ends Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson.

“Do we have that true No. 1 alpha 22-year-old Malik Nabers out there if he’s not available? No, but I think there’s enough to go,” Schoen said. “There’s going to be a good competition at receiver throughout camp, but there’s enough for me from the backfield, the tight end position, there’s enough at receiver where we’ll be able to move the ball and still be a productive offense — and it’ll be a cherry on top if Malik’s out there.”

As we approach training camp in late July, questions will ramp up about how much Nabers can participate and whether he will indeed be ready for the start of the regular season. For now, Schoen isn’t fretting that Nabers is not participating in offseason workouts, even as the Giants install a new offense.

“If he’s ready to go Week 1, you told me that today, however it looks in between now and then, I don’t care as long as when we roll out against the Cowboys over here that he’s out and ready to go,” Schoen said. “And if it’s not? Again, I think we bought enough insurance that we’ll still be able to move the ball and be productive.”

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins rejected the notion that he’s in Las Vegas to mentor No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, instead suggesting it’s more of a collective approach in the QB room.

“[It’s] more of a narrative than it is the truth,” Cousins said Tuesday of the mentor discussion, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. “They’re pretty good players, pretty experienced, and I’m learning a lot from them, too, and asking questions to them.

“Nobody’s leading more than someone else. I think we’re all a working force together, helping each other, giving feedback, giving perspective [and] giving another set of eyes.”

Cousins added that it’s “a bit of a reach” to call him Mendoza’s mentor, as all the QBs are working to get better each day to improve the football team.

The 37-year-old quarterback can downplay his role in Mendoza’s development. That’s his prerogative. However, it’s obvious that a player with 14 years of NFL experience, including 167 starts, who has played in a Kubiak-style offense, would have more experience than a rookie still getting used to taking snaps from under center. That knowledge will be passed down in one form or another.

After the debacle that was his experience in Atlanta the past two seasons with Michael Penix Jr., perhaps Cousins is simply wary of titles and how those stories can spiral. The veteran QB would rather focus on the collective.

“I’ve always felt I prepare my best during the season when we can all kind of be together in that room in the evening, going over things together rather than working in our own,” Cousins said. “I think when we can kind of all be given feedback on each other, that’s when I think the best ideas come out.”

Mendoza said he’s already learned a lot from Cousins and Aidan O’Connell.

“We’ve all come together and have combined our experiences, whether it’s from an experienced mind, a naive mind, [or] Aidan’s mind, who’s a little bit of a mix,” Mendoza said.

While Cousins is in a QB room with yet another first-round rookie, this situation is vastly different from the one he left in Atlanta. There, he was taken by surprise after signing a $180 million contract when the Falcons drafted Penix. In Vegas, everyone knew Mendoza was coming to town. Cousins signed knowing full well he was a bridge, one that would be as long or short as the rookie needed.

One big question heading into the Dallas Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp next week is if George Pickens will report.

Pickens, who had the franchise tag placed on him, has skipped voluntary workouts. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pickens has not committed to attend minicamp but expects the wideout to report.

Quarterback Dak Prescott, likewise, anticipates Pickens’ attendance but doesn’t expect the wideout to participate much.

“I haven’t had any conversations, and to be honest, would love for him to be in, but even if he’s in, I doubt it’s a full, he’s going full go, jumping in the team,” Prescott said, via the team’s official website. “I would hope not to be honest, just being protected and being smart. Just hope he gets in just to see some of the new guys, meet some of the new guys. I’m sure he’ll be here.”

Prescott went through his own franchise tag situation in the past, so he understands full well what the wideout is experiencing. The QB said his last throwing sessions with Pickens happened in March or April.

“They were great,” Prescott said. “George is George. He’s great, he’s awesome. The personality, excitement, his energy was consistent, consistent as it’s been those times that I got to throw with him. Just even communicating with him through phone as we have these last couple of weeks, George is great. I’m excited about where he’s going to be. I’m excited about when he gets in and the work that we’re going to have to build off of. George is George, and he’s fine.”

The Cowboys used the franchise tag to ensure the boundary receiver would remain in Dallas for one more year. The club’s brass said early on that they had no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens this season. The hope is that after a rocky start to his career in Pittsburgh, last year’s turnaround sticks. The Cowboys are hedging their bets by using the tender to keep him off the market but not ink him to a long-term deal.

Had Pickens wanted to make a statement that he disagreed with the Cowboys’ play, he would not have signed his franchise tender until much later this summer, allowing the opportunity to skip mandatory work without the threat of fines. Having inked it, he puts himself at risk of incurring $107,911 in total fines if he skips the three-day minicamp. It’s incongruous to sign the tender, then skip minicamp.

Pickens reporting would not only avoid the fines but also be another sign that he’s willing to play the Cowboys’ game this season and continue to toe the line as he waits for his big payday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wore a Band-Aid on his nose Tuesday at minicamp, later revealing that he recently underwent a procedure to remove a small spot of basal cell carcinoma.

Canales said that two months ago a routine skin cancer screening performed by the team identified some areas of concern on his nose.

“It’s a good reminder not to take these things for granted,” Canales said. “It was a basal cell type of skin cancer in a small spot, and they were able to get it off. So I’m really appreciative.”

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and is highly curable, slow-growing, and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Basal cells are the small cells in the outer layer of skin.

The 45-year-old Canales said his mother also dealt with skin cancer issues when she was in her 40s. As a result, he said he’s always been diligent about using sunscreen while outside.

“You can imagine a Southern California kid playing outdoor sports and then getting into coaching, right?” Canales said.

Reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan participated in individual drills at minicamp after sitting out organized team activities last month with a minor foot injury.

Canales said the team is trying to work McMillan back in slowly, but feels he is recovering well.