Golden Knights Survive Hurricanes' Historic Rally, Take Game 3 in Double Overtime
Written By Gina Anton
LAS VEGAS — For 40 minutes, the Golden Knights looked untouchable. The next 20 brought complete chaos. Two overtimes later, Vegas was still standing.
Shea Theodore's shot from the right point banked off the end boards, ricocheted off Carolina goaltender Brandon Bussi and into the net 5:38 into double overtime, giving Vegas a stunning 5-4 victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena and a 2-1 series lead.
The winner capped one of the wildest games in Stanley Cup Final history.
Earlier, Mitch Marner had put on a show for the ages.
After Vegas had two second-period goals erased on successful Carolina challenges, Tomas Hertl finally broke through with a power-play goal at 10:26. Sixteen seconds later, Marner struck for his first. He added another at 14:32 and completed a natural hat trick at 16:52.
His three goals came in just 6:10, the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, breaking a record set by Maurice Richard 69 years ago.
“He’s probably one of the best players in the league,” coach John Tortorella said.
Marner also assisted on Hertl's goal, becoming the first player in Cup Final history to record four points in a single period. His playoff total climbed to 28 points, a Golden Knights postseason record.
By the end of the second period, Vegas owned a commanding 4-0 lead.
Then everything changed.
Bussi entered for Carolina to start the third period and stopped Marner on a shorthanded penalty shot early in the frame, keeping the game within reach.
The Hurricanes took advantage. Jordan Martinook scored at 7:03. Taylor Hall followed 26 seconds later. Just 13 seconds after that, Jordan Staal made it 4-3.
Three goals.
Three shots.
Thirty-nine seconds.
The outburst set a Stanley Cup Final record for the fastest three goals by one team.
Carolina completed the comeback with 1:42 left in regulation when Andrei Svechnikov buried a loose puck during a six-on-four power play, erasing a four-goal deficit and silencing the Vegas crowd.
But the comeback stopped there.
After a scoreless first overtime, Theodore fired a puck toward the net midway through the second extra session. The strange bounce fooled Bussi and sent T-Mobile Arena into celebration.
Carter Hart made 29 saves for Vegas, while Brayden McNabb logged 35:47 and collected two assists despite wearing a full cage after suffering facial injuries in Game 2.
For Carolina, it was a crushing finish after producing one of the greatest rallies in Stanley Cup Final history.
For Vegas, it was survival. The Golden Knights blew a four-goal lead, watched history unfold against them, and still found a way to win.
Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the Golden Knights looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
