The Golden Knights defeated the Hurricanes on Saturday.
LAS VEGAS — A four-goal lead in what has been a wacky, compelling and highly entertaining Stanley Cup Final nearly wasn’t enough for the Golden Knights on Saturday night.
A four-goal, third-period rally by the Hurricanes nearly made NHL history and in process sent shockwaves through T-Mobile Arena.
And this game ended in a way perhaps befitting all the craziness, a shot from Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore off the skate of Brandon Bussi — the backup goalie put in the game in the third period after not playing for two months — that went into the net at 5:38 of double overtime to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 victory over Carolina.
“I have experienced a lot of games in playoffs,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said. “I haven’t experienced one like this.”
Shea Theodore celebrates his goal during overtime June 6. NHLI via Getty Images
Almost overlooked was the four-point night by Vegas’ Mitch Marner, who also produced the fastest hat trick in Cup Final history.
The Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead. The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams with a 2-1 series lead went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.
“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”
This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time was in 2016 between Pittsburgh and San Jose.
The Golden Knights seemed to have it in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest three in a Cup Final game.
Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.
“I love that we feel like we can come back from anything, but you can’t put yourself in a hole like we did,” Martinook said. “The second period, for them to come out like that and take total control of the game, it’s something that can’t happen, especially this time.”
Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final was in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Jordan Staal celebrates his goal during the Hurricanes’ June 6 loss. NHLI via Getty Images
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who made 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.
Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.
Jun 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save on a penalty shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) during the third period in game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
“In this town, your luck can change just that quickly.“
I was inside the Lenovo Center after that abysmal second period of Thursday night. How could we feel any worse after that period?
Then here comes the second period of Game 3.
Time to flush it. Reset. What can the Carolina Hurricanes do to prepare for Game 4?
A big save and some hustle changed the direction of Saturday night. And hopefully the series.
Is this the first time that a double overtime loss was not heartbreaking?
Carolina lost 5-4 Saturday night, but the tenacity of this team has the Caniacs hopeful.
The game started tight and stayed that way throughout the first period. The Canes had the standard lines at the start of the game, but switched them to the combinations of the third period of Game 2 soon after the start of the game.
The first scoring chance came at the 13-minute mark. Seth Jarvis, skating with Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers, found the Captain behind the Vegas defense on a transition rush. Jarvis put it right on Staal’s stick, and the redirect went right into Carter Hart’s breadbasket.
Jalen Chatfield left the bench with about five minutes left with an apparent wrist injury after his stick got wedged against the boards and a Golden Knights player.
The next Grade A for Carolina was a K’Andre Miller headman pass to Jarvis. He created space, dangled the puck, and put one right off the mask of Hart. It was clear from that play that Jarvis had gotten his confidence back.
Chatfield returned to the ice just as William Carrier went back to the locker room. After a hit on Vegas, Carrier was holding his elbow in discomfort.
Near the end of the period, another great scoring chance started with a great defensive play by Miller. After breaking up a Vegas pass, he got up to 20 miles an hour on the right wing to put an uncontested backhander on Hart.
The Golden Knights had zero shots on goal for the last 15:13 of the first. The Hurricanes were able to control more possession as the period went on, closing with a +7 in Corsi as the first period ended.
The game completely flipped in the second.
Just 36 seconds into the period, Carolina pinched on Brett Howden, but he was able to chip it to a streaking Mark Stone, who put it past Frederik Andersen on a breakaway.
After a challenge by the Canes, it was determined that Howden was offside and the goal was removed.
In what would be the last sustained offensive play by the Hurricanes in the period, Carolina was able to get a couple of good chances after the Vegas goal was waved off, including Taylor Hall all alone in the high slot.
Just a couple of minutes later, a bounce off the end boards led to a Jack Eichel goal. The Canes challenged again, and it was determined that Ivan Barbashev interfered with Andersen by colliding with his head in the crease. Another Vegas goal was waved off.
After that disallowed goal, the Golden Knights cranked the pressure to 11 and never let up.
At the 9:44 mark, the Hurricanes had an awful penalty for too many men on the ice. This was not one of those bench infractions where the puck gets hit near the bench as the players are making a change. All six players were down the ice, a glimpse of how the Canes were starting to overplay and be out of position.
Just 10 seconds into the penalty, Vegas made Carolina pay. Jaccob Slavin pressured the defender, and Chatfield did not collapse into the slot, leaving Tomas Hertl wide open above the crease for an easy one-timer.
Just 16 seconds later, a blind pass by Mitch Marner to the slot bounced off Sean Walker’s stick and into the back of the net.
And just like that, the Canes were officially down 2-0.
After this point, Carolina stopped skating for the puck and stopped putting pressure on Vegas. The Canes were reaching, coasting, and frankly, stopped hustling.
With five and a half minutes left in the second, the Hurricanes failed to clear and ended up falling all over themselves. Marner gathered the loose puck, was alone in the slot, and deked Andersen out of his skates for his second goal of the night.
Andersen came up big on a breakaway at the 3:26 mark due to the Canes pressing and overplaying the puck. But just 20 seconds later, Marner ripped a slapshot from the top of the circle and beat Andersen blocker side for the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
Brandon Bussi relieved Andersen to start the third period. Bussi had not seen the ice since a win against the New York Islanders on April 14.
Soon after the start of the period, the Canes announced Carrier would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury, likely his arm or elbow, sustained during a hit in the first.
Just three minutes into the third, Carolina had its first chance on the power play. Only 45 seconds elapsed until Marner had a shorthanded breakaway, and Sebastian Aho had to chop away to negate the chance.
Marner was awarded a penalty shot. Bussi was patient and denied Marner’s golden chance for his fourth goal of the game.
After that terrific save, Bussi and the Canes settled down. Carolina started doing the small things, blocking shots and getting man-to-man pressure, and it culminated with the Hurricanes finally being rewarded.
Jarvis outplayed the Vegas defender in the corner, got the puck to Jordan Martinook, and his patience against Hart got the Hurricanes on the board.
Just 26 seconds later, Aho won an individual battle and found a streaking Taylor Hall in the middle of the ice for the second Carolina goal of the game.
And 13 seconds after that, the Hurricanes scored again. Off the faceoff, Eric Robinson hustled to gather the puck, got it to Slavin, and Staal tipped it in to tie the game.
The Canes scored the fastest three goals in Stanley Cup Final history, tallying three in just 39 seconds.
And all of a sudden, there was a new game in Las Vegas.
With eight minutes to go, Jarvis clipped the puck out of a play, and after a conference by the referees and linemen, the Golden Knights were on the power play. Carolina got the best chance during that sequence off a hustle play by Staal during a shorthanded attempt.
Bussi stood tall during a burst with under six minutes to play, giving the Canes a chance down a goal.
With just under five minutes to play, the Hurricanes were putting the pressure on the Golden Knights. Noah Hanifin fell into his own goaltender, and Vegas retaliated against the flop with Rasmus Andersson climbing a ladder and tackling Staal from behind. Surprisingly, no penalties were called, and play continued.
Veteran defenseman Shea Theodore lofted the puck out of play with 2:55 left in the third, and the Canes were on the power play.
After Carolina controlled the play in the offensive end, the extra attacker was sent out for the six-on-four advantage after the Canes returned to the Knights’ end of the ice.
A key keep by Aho led to Staal putting it on net, and Andrei Svechnikov pushing it to the back of the net.
A theme of the game was reviews, and the officials huddled to make sure Ehlers did not interfere with Hart. Nic Dowd shoved Ehlers into the back of the net, and another cut-and-dry review ended with the Hurricanes completing one of the most historic third-period comebacks in NHL history.
If you want to be simplistic, the first overtime was split into three stanzas. The Hurricanes came out of the locker room ready, controlling the play for the first third of the game.
Vegas did not register a shot on goal until the 9:53 mark of the period. But once they got going, the Knights put pressure on the Canes and had a couple of great chances.
As the period wound down, Carolina regained momentum. The best chance of the period was a Jarvis tip with 3:30 to go. He had a great feed, but just could not put the puck on net.
The Canes controlled most of the play during the first overtime period, but were outshot 7-6.
From the start of the second overtime, the best plays were by Bussi. Knowing that the Canes were dominating in the faceoff circle, Bussi made an extra effort to cover the puck and slow the game down.
Despite a couple of chances, this game was determined by some puck luck. Just over five minutes into double overtime, an errant Theodore shot bounced off the end boards, was not able to be corralled by Martinook, and deflected off Bussi’s skate into the net.
Down 4-0 heading into the third period, the Hurricanes were down and out. The team did not complete the comeback, but forcing overtime was historic.
Two goals were puck luck, two were defensive collapses, and one was a goalie needing to make a save.
The Hurricanes must take the extra day off to fix two of those, and the other must come from the player between the pipes.
Carolina is back in action on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 8:00 PM on ABC.
The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes has made plenty of NHL history through the first three games.
Vegas leads 2-1 after blowing a four-goal lead but winning Game 3 on Saturday night in double overtime.
Here's a look at Vegas-Carolina by the numbers:
5
Stanley Cup Final series over the past 45 years in which each of the first three games was decided by a goal.
3
Goals scored by Mitch Marner during a 6:10 stretch in Game 3, the fastest hat trick in the final. Montreal’s Maurice Richard had the previous record at 6:21 in 1957.
3
Goals scored by Carolina in 39 seconds, the fastest by a team in the final. The previous record was three in 56 seconds by the Canadiens in 1954.
10
Goals by Marner in 19 games during this run with Vegas after scoring 13 in his first 70 playoff games with Toronto.
49
Shifts skated by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb in Game 3 for a total of 35:47, two days after taking a puck to the face off an 87.3 mph shot from Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers.
45
Years since more goals were scored in the first three games of a final. Vegas and Carolina combined for 28, the most since the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars scored 30 in Games 1-3 in 1981.
4
Points in the second period of Game 3 for Marner, the most in a game in the final since Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. That series was not completed and the Stanley Cup not awarded because of the Spanish flu pandemic.
1
Year to the date since the last time a Cup final game went to double overtime. Florida beat Edmonton in Game 2 in 2025 on Brad Marchand's goal on the way to being back-to-back champions.
1
Loss in overtime this playoffs for the Hurricanes, who won their previous six. Carolina also fell to 6-1 on the road.
Jun 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) and center William Karlsson (71) celebrates a goal by defenseman Shea Theodore (not pictured) against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second overtime in game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Shea Theodore scored at 5:38 of the second overtime, avoiding what could have been a potentially devastating loss for the Golden Knights after they blew a four-goal lead, and Vegas beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-1 series lead.
Theodore’s goal went in off goalie Brandon Bussi’s skate. It came long after teammate Mitch Marner had the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams that take a 2-1 series lead in the final went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.
“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”
This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time was in 2016 between Pittsburgh and San Jose.
The Golden Knights seemed to have it in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest in a Cup Final game.
Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.
Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final was in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who made 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.
Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
Mark Stone’s goal from the slot 36 seconds into the period was overturned when Brett Howden was determined to be offside after a video review. Another review wiped off Jack Eichel’s rebound goal four minutes in when Rasmus Andersson was called for goalie interference.
It’s not the first time this series went against the Golden Knights.
An unsuccessful video challenge by Vegas coach John Tortorella in Game 2 on Thursday night led to a power-play goal by Staal, whose goal helped the Hurricanes rally to win 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.
This series has been, if anything, unpredictable.
Each team blew two-goal leads in the first two games, with the Golden Knights rallying in the opener and Hurricanes responding with a Game 2 victory in overtime.
Shea Theodore was the hero for the Vegas Golden Knights, but his winning tally in double overtime will hardly be remembered as the prettiest goal in NHL history. Theodore fired a shot from near the blue line that rocketed off the end boards. Carolina's Jordan Martinook was unable to corral it and it struck Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi's skate, going into the net.
It was a brutal break for Bussi and the Hurricanes. The rookie goalie was inserted for starter Frederik Andersen to start the third period with the Hurricanes down 4-0.
Carolina erased that 4-0 deficit in the third, thanks in part to a record three goals in just 39 seconds before the 'Canes added a late power play equalizer that sent the game to OT. Bussi stopped the first 18 shots he faced, but Theodore's bizarre goal got through to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 series lead.
Game 3 of this high-scoring series is set for Tuesday, June 9 (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
A Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman looks poised to leave the organization at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
According to Hockey News Hub, which reports a lot of KHL news, defenseman Alexander Alexeyev is set to sign a two-year contract with Salavat of the KHL.
Alexeyev signed with the Penguins as a free agent last July and has spent the entire 2025-26 season with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are in the Eastern Conference Final. He finished the AHL regular season with three goals and 12 points in 38 games and has one goal and five points in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games.
Hearing Salavat will sign #LetsGoPens defenseman Alexander Alexeyev to a two-year contract. #KHL
Carolina scored three goals in the span of just 39 seconds in the third period, turning a 4-0 Vegas blowout into a 4-3 nail biter. Per Sportsnet Stats, that's the fastest any team has scored three goals in a Stanley Cup Final game.
The prior record was 56 seconds for three goals, set by the Montreal Canadiens during the 1954 Stanley Cup Final.
Jordan Martinook got the scoring started at 7:03. Taylor Hall made it 4-2 at 7:29. At 7:42, captain Jordan Staal scored to make it 4-3.
CAROLINA AGAIN, WHAT IS GOING ON, IT IS NOW A 1 GOAL GAME 😱🚨
Carolina scored a power play goal at 18:18 to erase its 4-0 deficit, sending Game 3 to overtime. Unfortunately for the 'Canes, their historic comeback bid fell short as they lost in double overtime.
Golden Knights star Mitch Marner scored the fastest natural hat trick in Stanley Cup history, a span of 6 minutes, 10 seconds in the second period, during the Golden Knights' 5-4, double-overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Game 3.
Vegas' 4-0 lead became short-lived, however, as the Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime.
After neither team was able to score in the first overtime, Shea Theodore sent T-Mobile Arena into a frenzy when his shot off the end boards deflected off backup goaltender Brandon Bussi's skate and into the net for the win.
"Stuff happens throughout playoffs," Marner said. "It's obviously not how we envisioned that or how we wanted that to go, but stuff happens, man. It's a roller coaster ride. I thought we did a really good job just coming in after that third (period) and just deep breath, relaxing and saying, 'Hey, boys, we're fine here, man.'
"I don't even know if we took the foot off the gas. They made a couple of good plays that went in. Just happy that we stayed resilient. We kept fighting through, and we got the job done."
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night, back at T-Mobile Arena.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
Two overturned goals earlier in the second period didn't deflate the Knights, as they controlled the entire period and went into the second intermission with a commanding lead that prompted Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour to replace starting goaltender Frederik Andersen with Bussi.
Just 16 seconds after assisting on Tomas Hertl's goal that put Vegas on the board midway through the second, Marner upped the lead when he gathered a loose puck near the right board, backhanded it toward the crease and it caromed off Carolina defenseman Sean Walker's blade and into the net, making it 2-0.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
Less than four minutes later, Marner left Andersen baffled by deking around him to the left and slipping the puck into the net to give the Knights a three-goal lead.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 7, 2026
After being outplayed in the first period, the Golden Knights appeared ready to seize momentum in the second.
Captain Mark Stone found a seam and beat Andersen in the five-hole to break the scoreless tie just 36 seconds into the period.
But the Hurricanes challenged for an offside call and it was upheld, keeping the game 0-0.
Not too long thereafter, Jack Eichel's persistence during a scramble in front of the net resulted in him finding the back of the net to break the scoreless tie just four minutes into the period.
Unfortunately for the Knights, the Hurricanes challenged for a goalie interference call, and it was upheld, keeping the game 0-0.
Before the opening puck drop, the sold-out crowd erupted when Brayden McNabb was announced in the starting lineup, just two days after taking an 87-mile-per-hour slapshot to the face.
McNabb wore a full-caged helmet and appeared to have stitching around his nose.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) celebrates after scoring his third goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
Not to be denied, they scored two goals 16 seconds apart. Marner ended up with a hat trick in the period for a commanding 4-0 lead after two periods. His three goals came in a span of 6 minutes, 10 seconds, setting a record for fastest Stanley Cup Final hat trick. The previous record-holder was the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard.
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone got a breakaway goal on a pass from Brett Howden at the blue line. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour challenged for offsides and a review showed that Howden was in the zone before the puck.
Then Jack Eichel scored shortly afterward. Referees consulted and called it a good goal on the ice.
Again, Brind'Amour challenged, this time for goalie interference. And the goal was overturned because Ivan Barbashev was shown on review to have clipped the head of Frederik Andersen as he skated through the crease.
WE HAVE A 2ND VEGAS GOAL WAVED OFF AFTER COACH'S CHALLENGE 😱
Barbashev's goal is overturned for goalie interference after he made contact with Frederik Andersen's head 😬 pic.twitter.com/ffuSDapVO5
They got a power play when Carolina had too many men on the ice. Tomas Hertl scored. Sixteen seconds later, Marner threw the puck in front of the net and Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker accidentally tipped it past his goalie.
The Marner show continued. He missed on a breakaway, took a feed from Brayden McNabb and scored his second goal of the game.
He blasted a shot past Andersen on another breakaway for the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
Incredibly, the Hurricanes made some history of their own. They erased their 4-0 deficit in the third period, setting their own record by scoring three goals in just 39 seconds. Game 3 went to double overtime, with the Golden Knights getting the dramatic victory.
Yesterday, the Nashville Predators' front office went through a major shakeup, with two moves that really point to a shift in direction for the organization.
Rob Blake has been hired as the team’s new Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. Blake, a Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman and former general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, steps into a senior leadership role and will work alongside newly appointed general manager Chris MacFarland. The two will oversee hockey operations decisions. Their attention now turns to the upcoming NHL Draft, as Nashville tries to rebuild their roster.
At the same time, Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations Brian Poile is leaving the organization. Poile, the son of longtime former general manager David Poile, had been with the franchise for nearly 16 years and spent the past eight seasons as assistant GM.
Majority owner Bill Haslam has made it pretty clear he wants change, and this is what that looks like. Long-standing internal voices are being phased out, and MacFarland and Blake are now in position to take over hockey operations and shape the next era in Nashville.
Stay updated with the most interesting Nashville Predators stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
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Shea Theodore scored at 5:38 of the second overtime, avoiding what could have been a potentially devastating loss for the Golden Knights after they blew a four-goal lead, and Vegas beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
Theodore’s goal, which went off goalie Brandon Bussi’s skate, came long after teammate Mitch Marner had the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams that take a 2-1 series lead in the final went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.
“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”
This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time occurred in 2016 series between Pittsburgh and San Jose.
The Golden Knights seemed to have the game in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes to turn what appeared to be a party atmosphere into a white-knuckler for the Golden Knights. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest in a Cup Final game.
Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.
Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final occurred in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who stood tall in making 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.
Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
Mark Stone’s goal from the slot 36 seconds into the period was overturned when Brett Howden was determined to be offside after a video review. Another review wiped off Jack Eichel’s rebound goal four minutes in when Rasmus Andersson was called for goalie interference.
It’s not the first time this series went against the Golden Knights.
An unsuccessful video challenge by Vegas coach John Tortorella in Game 2 on Thursday night led to a power-play goal by Jordan Staal, whose goal helped the Hurricanes rally to win 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.
“I wish I could say it’s shocking, but it’s not,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said on the ABC broadcast. “Just the way he comes to the rink every day, it’s like nothing happened. He’s one of a kind. They don’t make them like that anymore, that’s for sure.”
This series has been, if anything, unpredictable.
Each team blew two-goal leads in the first two games, with the Golden Knights rallying in the opener and Hurricanes responding with a Game 2 victory in overtime.
Shea Theodore scored at 5:38 of the second overtime, avoiding what could have been a potentially devastating loss for the Golden Knights after they blew a four-goal lead, and Vegas beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
Theodore’s goal, which went off goalie Brandon Bussi’s skate, came long after teammate Mitch Marner had the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams that take a 2-1 series lead in the final went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.
Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.
“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”
This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time occurred in 2016 series between Pittsburgh and San Jose.
The Golden Knights seemed to have the game in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.
But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes to turn what appeared to be a party atmosphere into a white-knuckler for the Golden Knights. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest in a Cup Final game.
Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.
Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.
The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final occurred in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.
Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who stood tall in making 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.
Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.
Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.
Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.
Mark Stone’s goal from the slot 36 seconds into the period was overturned when Brett Howden was determined to be offside after a video review. Another review wiped off Jack Eichel’s rebound goal four minutes in when Rasmus Andersson was called for goalie interference.
It’s not the first time this series went against the Golden Knights.
An unsuccessful video challenge by Vegas coach John Tortorella in Game 2 on Thursday night led to a power-play goal by Jordan Staal, whose goal helped the Hurricanes rally to win 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.
“I wish I could say it’s shocking, but it’s not,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said on the ABC broadcast. “Just the way he comes to the rink every day, it’s like nothing happened. He’s one of a kind. They don’t make them like that anymore, that’s for sure.”
This series has been, if anything, unpredictable.
Each team blew two-goal leads in the first two games, with the Golden Knights rallying in the opener and Hurricanes responding with a Game 2 victory in overtime.
One postseason appearance changed everything, and now the Utah Mammoth face the kind of offseason that could determine whether they're simply an exciting young team—or the NHL's next legitimate powerhouse.
A Playoff Breakthrough Changes The Conversation
Expectations surrounding Utah entering the 2025-26 season were modest at best.
The foundation was certainly intriguing. Clayton Keller remained the offensive catalyst, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther continued developing into stars, Nick Schmaltz provided veteran production, and Mikhail Sergachev anchored the blue line. But with the Central Division loaded from top to bottom and several young players still finding their footing, most believed another year of growth would be necessary before playoff hockey became realistic.
Instead, the Mammoth accelerated the timeline.
General manager Bill Armstrong aggressively strengthened the roster, acquiring J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres and adding veteran defenseman Mackenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames without sacrificing a first-round pick in either deal. Those moves transformed Utah into one of the league's biggest surprises, finishing 43-33-6 and punching a ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The opportunity was there for an even deeper run.
After grabbing a 2-1 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah looked poised for an upset before consecutive overtime defeats completely shifted the momentum. The Mammoth ultimately exited in six games, but the series proved something important: this team is much closer than many expected.
Now comes the difficult part—deciding whether it's time to push all of the chips to the middle.
The Next Wave Could Arrive Sooner Than Expected
Few organizations possess the type of high-end prospect depth Utah currently enjoys.
Tij Iginla appears ready to make the jump after dominating the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets. The sixth overall selection from the 2024 NHL Draft exploded for 41 goals and 90 points in just 48 games while finishing with an eye-popping plus-47 rating. His offensive instincts are obvious, but his commitment away from the puck may be what earns him NHL minutes immediately.
Caleb Desnoyers isn't far behind.
The fourth overall pick in 2025 produced 22 goals and 78 points across 45 games, showcasing the creativity and hockey IQ that made him one of the premier prospects in his draft class. At 173 pounds, additional strength would certainly benefit him, but his talent is difficult to ignore.
Utah suddenly finds itself with an enviable problem.
If one—or both—young centers prove capable of sticking in training camp, the organization could dramatically reshape its lineup while injecting another wave of speed and skill into an already dangerous forward group.
Tough Contract Decisions Will Shape Utah's Future
Cap space provides flexibility, but difficult choices still await.
With roughly $14.2 million available, Armstrong must determine which pending unrestricted free agents remain part of the organization's long-term vision.
Kailer Yamamoto made a compelling late-season case. After settling into a top-six role, he recorded nine points over his final 13 games, including the playoffs, bringing energy and secondary scoring exactly when Utah needed it most. A projected contract near $1.8 million makes a reunion financially appealing, assuming the organization believes his late surge is sustainable.
Kevin Stenlund offers value in different ways.
His offensive totals won't dominate headlines, but a 54.2 percent faceoff success rate and league-leading shorthanded ice time made him one of Utah's most trusted defensive forwards. With projections placing his next contract around $1.4 million, retaining him would preserve an important piece of the penalty kill.
Alex Kerfoot presents a more complicated decision.
Limited to just 34 games because of injuries, the versatile forward produced only 13 points and is expected to command more than $3.3 million annually. His ability to play multiple positions remains valuable, but with organizational depth growing down the middle, Utah must determine whether that price fits its long-term blueprint.
Is Barrett Hayton Part Of The Long-Term Plan?
Perhaps no player presents a more fascinating offseason decision than Barrett Hayton.
When healthy, the center consistently impacts games with relentless forechecking, responsible defensive play, and dependable two-way effort. The problem has been availability. Since 2021-22, his career has alternated between mostly healthy campaigns and seasons interrupted by lengthy absences.
Now arbitration eligible, Hayton is projected by AFP Analytics to earn north of $5.3 million annually on his next contract.
That's where the conversation becomes interesting.
With Iginla and Desnoyers pushing toward NHL jobs and Utah already possessing significant depth down the middle, Hayton could emerge as one of the organization's most valuable trade assets. His age, defensive reliability, and untapped offensive upside would undoubtedly attract interest across the league.
Whether Armstrong chooses continuity or leverages that value to strengthen the wings could become one of the defining decisions of Utah's offseason.
After exceeding expectations and announcing themselves as a legitimate playoff team, the Mammoth are no longer chasing relevance—they're trying to build a roster capable of contending for the Stanley Cup every single year.
