Las Vegas, NV – First-year Vegas player Mitch Marner earned the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history and Shea Theodore took advantage of the lively boards at T-Mobile Arena to wrest control of the series before 18,233 fans provide the Golden Knights some needed momentum going into a very critical Game Four Tuesday night.
But the story before the final buzzer went off told a much different story than the outcome.
After a scoreless and largely uneventful opening frame and first half of the second period which produced just nine combined shots, Vegas sprinted out to a 4-0 lead including their first three goals in 4:06 minutes. Just two minutes and twenty seconds later and the Golden Knights held a four-goal lead and full control.
That changed just after the start of the third period when Carolina rattled off three goals in 39 seconds. The Hurricanes tied it with just 1:42 left in the game, sending it to overtime.
Of the bizarre nature, before Game Three, teams were 0-108 when trailing by 4+ goals in the third period. And, for only the second time in the history of the Final series, it was only the 2nd time a game tying goal was scored in final two minutes of regulation in consecutive games.
But on a night where the Stanley Cup Final shifted to the desert with the series tied, Vegas sought to give the Western Conference a decisive edge right out of the gate.
T-Mobile arena was prepped to leave nothing missing from their big game atmosphere. Whereas the normal stage has included the regal banners fit for a castle displaying marks from all of the NHL’s 32 clubs, all were removed on this day, except for those belonging to the final two combatants vying for Lord Stanley’s chalice.
A roucous crowd assembled outside on the plaza arena enjoying a live concert by Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist, producer and songwriter, Illenium. He helped create an environment which delivered a rowdy tone which carried over into the fortress.
The always-spine-tingling intro of the home team carried through the building until the offensive line of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders joined rookie quarterback, Fernando Mendoza to crank the ear-splitting siren to get things rolling.
And with that, the puck was dropped for Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas had the first decent chance of the game when just four minutes into the opening frame, Mark Stone fired a shot while in tight on Carolina goaltender Frederik Anderson, who shut the door and the rebound was cleared away.
Just less than a minute later, Carolina had a chance from the slot, but that was blocked by Vegas defenseman Brayden
McNabb, who returned for this game after taking a puck to the chops in Game Two and was now wearing a full cage, the type you would expect from AAA youth hockey. It is remarkable that he suited up for this game.
Both teams struggled most of the period to generate any pressure, seemingly feeling each other out for any weaknesses early on. Each team was up to the challenge.
As the midpoint of the 1st stanza arrived, Vegas was taking it to Carolina in the physical play department. The home team determined it was time to let their opponent know they were not going to patrol the ice as though it were a figure skating competition.
Solid and clean body checks by a Vegas attack that include Mark Stone, Noah Hanafin and Ivan Barbashev sought to leave an imprint on the white sweaters. And Carolina attempted to counter punch but seemed to miss on several forechecking efforts in the Vegas zone.
Neither team could muster much with Carolina firing just 4 shots against the 2 Vegas mustered with six minutes to play in the first period.
With just three minutes left to play, Carolina’s Seth Jarvis, who scored the game winner in overtime of Game Two, nearly gave the visitors the lead when he came in on the left side and nearly snuck one past Vegas goaltender Carter Hart before a slick save by the first-year Golden Knight.
Vegas countered when Colton Sissons found himself alone in the slot, starting down Anderson who handled the drive confidently to preserve the scoreless game.
The period ended with a rather uneventful result, as Carolina extended the shot differential 7 to 2. Vegas controlled the face-offs with 52.9% winning percentage and dominated in the hits department 23 to 12. But neither team could light the scoreboard as intermission arrived.
As the second period began, it looked as though the home team lit their side of the ledger when Stone skated in all alone and slipped one through Andersen’s wickets to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead, just 36 seconds in the middle frame.
But under further review, it was determined the play was offside when a Golden Knights player was in the attacking zone and then handled the puck while it was in the neutral zone and bringing it over the line. It was the right call and the game remained scoreless.
Not long after this play, Carolina’s Taylor Hall pounced on a loose puck just off to the side of Hart and fired it high and wide. It was Carolina’s best chance to reach that point with just less than two minutes expired in the period.
Vegas seemed to have an answer to Carolina’s chance, and this came with exactly four minutes into the period. That’s when Vegas pressured the Carolina goal with a series of shots, the final one when with Vegas Jack Eichel in front, but it seemed as though Andersen put the puck in while trying to swipe it away from his crease.
It was all for naught though, as video review determined there was goalie interference on the play. This was the second goal in the last two games that was called back against Vegas and seemed as though it wasn’t necessarily as video review determined it should be.
The game remained scoreless.
Vegas remained undaunted, continuing their relentless forecheck. The accompanied that style with an attack of shots and punishing hits to eliminate space wherever a Hurricanes player was on the ice. It became clear the game plan was beginning to have an effect on Carolina.
Midway through the period, Carolina was whistled for too many men on the ice, the first penalty of the game and Vegas would go to work.
Vegas, with the 4th highest power play conversion rate of this year’s playoffs with a 20.8% would go up against Carolina’s 2nd best penalty kill percentage denying goals while playing shorthanded 93.3% of the time.
After the draw, it took Vegas just nine seconds for Tomas Hertl to convert a Jach Eichel pass which came from behind the goal line. Hertl was waiting alone in the slot, and Andersen did not have a chance. Vegas had the 1-0 lead, and it was Hertl’s 10th goal of the playoffs.
The Golden Knights were not done, though, even though their mad advantage was. That’s when just 16 seconds after taking the lead, Vegas struck again.
Mitch Marner potted a slick pass from William Karlsson after Shea Theodore got the play going on the point. The shot by Marner beat Anderson for his 8th goal of the playoffs. He extended his lead among all scorers with 26 points, six ahead of teammate Eichel.
Carolina was on their heels and Marner played a big role in shifting the balance.
Marner glided in all alone on Anderson with just under six minutes to play, and after a series of clever dekes, couldn’t find an opening as Andersen shut the door low with his left pad.
Marner kept up the pressure, eventually finding the puck on his stick, but this time on the other side of the goal mouth, tucking it past the Hurricanes netminder to give Vegas the 3-0 lead.
It was Vegas’ third goal in 4:06, causing Carolina to really being in a devastating state of shock.
With under four to play in the second period, Carolina sought to show any sign of life they could muster on Hart, nibbling around the edges, but unable to get on the scoreboard with a few menial chances.
Still, Vegas continued to find openings on the Carolina defense.
And then another when Marner accepted a pass down the right side from Hertl after a Carolina flub at the blue line. Marner accepted the pass and sped in on Anderson and let a lethal drive go, just eluding the Hurricanes back stopper on the stick side, just inside the far post. It marked a hat trick for Marner and gave the Golden Knights a 4-0 lead. It was Marner’s 10th goal of the post season.
It was also the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history with 6:10 between first goal and third goal.
Vegas’ Brett Howden nearly made it 5-0 when he drove along the goal line to the left of Andersen, but could not solve the Danish goalie.
The period ended much differently than the first period, as Vegas took the lead in shots 16-12, firing 14 shots on target in the frame to Carolina’s 5 shots.
Carolina took the upper hand on face=off percentage through two periods winning 55% of the time, but Vegas extended their hits lead now having put 42 on Carolina while just receiving 25. Carolina’s giveaway were the difference.
As the final regulation period began, the Hurricanes relieved Andersen from the bet and installed Brandon Bussi.
That change and with nothing to lose, Carolina attempted to pin Vegas back in their zone. The resulting pressure led to Vegas’ Cole Smith to be whistled for holding the stick, sending the visitors to their first power play.
The ensuing face-off led to a poor play and the puck found itself on Marner’s stick and while all alone, Sebastian Aho slashed him. Marner was awarded a penalty shot.
Marner stayed on the ice to take the shot and while deking to his backhand, was tracked well by Andersen who kicked out his right pad low and denied the League’s leading playoff scorer of a fourth goal.
Carolina did find their way back to competitive play when Jordan Martinook netted a pass from Seth Jarvis to light the Hurricane’s side of the ledger. Logan Stankoven was credited with the second assist.
Martinook’s goal seemed to inspire the Hurricanes because just 28 seconds later, Taylor Hall handled Aho’s pass and put one past Hart to cut the lead in half. It was 4-2 with just under thirteen minutes in regulation. The Hurricanes had life.
Jordan Staal kept things going just 13 seconds later with a tip-in coming off a feed from Jacob Slavin with Eric Robinson assisting. It was no 4-3 Vegas and now the Golden Knights were on their heels.
Carolina had just scored three goals in 39 seconds and stunned the Vegas crowd.
Teams traded chances, but Vegas applied pressure with just under eight minutes to play, causing Carolina to be penalized for clearing the puck over the glass, officially reported as delay of game. It came from the stick of Seth Jarvis.
Vegas would embark on the man advantage where they converted their only power play chance of the game to that point. A fifth goal would be good insurance late in the game, but it wouldn’t go.
Big hits were coming from both sides with just under four minutes in regulation, the pressure eventually getting to Vegas when an errant clear sailed over the glass and delivering a man advantage to Carolina. The puck came from Shea Theodore’s stick and sent the Hurricanes on their second power play with just more than two minutes to play.
With just under two minutes to play and the Hurricanes net empty, the visitors crashed Hart. Shots were fired and eventually, the puck slipped past the Vegas goalie. The call on the ice was “goal” and it would stand. Credited to Andrei Svechnikov, with helpers to Stall and Aho, the game was tied 4-4 with 1:42 to play.
Three periods of regulation showed a pretty level game with shots at 35-24 Vegas, power play at 50%. Vegas still held serve on hits at 54-31, but conceded four straight goals and let a feisty Carolina squad back in a game that was pretty much decided after two periods.
With three minutes into the extra frame, Carolina swarmed Hart who made a game saving kick off a drive from the slot coming from Aho’s stick. It was destined to cross the line, but
Hart said “no” and the game continued.
With ten minutes to play, Barbashev had a golden chance for Vegas, but Bussi made the left pad, sprawling save to preserve overtime.
In the closing seconds of the first overtime, Vegas nearly won it when Karlsson drove to the net and shot on goal, Bussi saved it and his rebound went wide, keeping the game knotted up.
After four periods, shots were 32-31 Vegas, Carolina increased its face-off winning percentage to 58.3%, Vegas dominated again in hits with 64-38.
The fifth period began with tentative play and then with just less than six minutes into the period, a shot from Shea Theodore banked off the corner and off of Bussi before trickling into the net for the game-winning goal and a 2-1 series lead for the Golden Knights.
Dennis Morrell has developed a deeply rooted passion for our game over fifty years as a goaltender, writer, photographer, goalie coach, and active Level 3 USA Hockey-certified, on-ice official with over 2,500 games holding the whistle.
His passion for the game began in the early 70s upon his first glance at players battling for the puck at Clayton’s Shaw Park in St. Louis.
And yes, the ice is perfect.
He has been fortunate to journalistically cover 2 NHL Entry Drafts, 5 NHL All-Star Games, 11 NHL Outdoor Games in two countries and 26 games played in the context of 12 Stanley Cup Final series, witnessing the oldest trophy in sports lifted by the champion 4 times, including when his beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, captured their first chalice in 2019.
He has witnessed over 1,000 major and minor professional games in over 250 different arenas. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com and you can follow him on Twitter at DMMORRELL.
