Nine more goals were scored in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, putting the three-game total at 25 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes.
More importantly, each game has been more thrilling than the one prior, and the latter two have needed overtime to be settled.
The Golden Knights won the latest contest, 5-4 in double overtime, giving them a 2-1 series lead heading into Tuesday’s Game 4.
Here’s how it all went down, along with updated playoff stats leaders.
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Offseason guide for eliminated teams
Saturday’s scoreboard
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4 (2OT)
Knights lead 2-1
After 16 goals scored over the course of Games 1 and 2, some expected a tight defensive battle in Game 3. The first period was! But then the scoring onslaught began.
Vegas scored two goals that were waved off upon replay review — one for offsides, one for goaltender interference — but they weren’t done yet. Tomas Hertl opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 10:26 of the second, and then the Mitch Marner show began. Marner scored three goals in succession — a natural hat trick — in a Stanley Cup Final-record 6:10 of game time. This led to Rod Brind’Amour replacing Frederik Andersen with Brandon Bussi in goal, and it looked like the Knights would cruise to a win.
But, with Bussi providing stability in the back end with some crucial saves — including on a Marner penalty shot — the Canes roared back. Carolina scored three goals in 39 seconds — another Stanley Cup Final record — off the sticks of Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal.
Vegas tightened up thereafter but the Canes would not be denied the equalizer, scored by Andrei Svechnikov with just 1:42 remaining. After many scoring chances for each side in the opening OT, it took until 5:38 of the second session for one of the wackiest game-clinching goals in recent memory to be the decider. Shea Theodore sent the puck in around the boards and it popped out to Martinook. The Canes forward misplayed it, resulting in a bounce off of Bussi’s pads and into the net. Elation for the home fans, and dismay for Carolina. Game 4 is Tuesday in Vegas. Full recap | Grades
Thursday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3 (OT)
From the first moments of Game 2, the Golden Knights were once again limiting any type of offensive momentum that the Canes could generate. And two breakaway goals by Brett Howden (at 13:33 of the first and 7:23 in the second) gave them a two-goal cushion after two periods.
However, the Canes came back to tie the game in quick succession in the third, thanks to goals from Logan Stankoven at 10:20, and Mark Jankowski just 2 minutes, 26 seconds later. With the game tied, it appeared that Ivan Barbashev scored on a high-effort play, but the goal was waved off and confirmed a “no goal” after review:
The unsuccessful coaches’ challenge by Vegas gave the Canes a power play, on which they converted for the first time all series, with Jordan Staal tipping in a rocket off the stick of Shayne Gostisbehere. Undeterred, the Knights kept battling, and after an unsuccessful power play of their own, Mark Stone found the net with just 1:21 left on the clock. Despite a couple of chances both ways, the game headed to overtime.
It didn’t take long for the Canes to find themselves on another power play, and Seth Jarvis played the hero, with his fourth goal of the postseason serving as the OT game winner. Game 3 is Saturday in Las Vegas. Full recap | Grades
Playoff scoring leaders
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
Playoff goaltending leaders
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
