- Shea Theodore scored 5:38 into double OT to lift Vegas past Carolina 5-4
- The Hurricanes scored three goals in 39 seconds, the fastest ever in a Cup Final
- Read below for video of the wild Game 3 and the historic comeback
The Golden Knights nearly threw away Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Shea Theodore made sure they didn’t.
Theodore scored 5:38 into double overtime Saturday night, and Vegas survived a 5-4 thriller against the Hurricanes at T-Mobile Arena after coughing up a four-goal lead in the third period. The Golden Knights now lead the series 2-1.
His winner wasn’t pretty. Theodore’s one-timer from the right point missed the net, banked off the end boards and went in off goalie Brandon Bussi.
Watch the video of the winning goal:
Vegas had no business needing overtime in this one. Mitch Marner scored the fastest hat trick in Cup Final history in the second period, and the Golden Knights carried a 4-0 lead into the third.
Then it all fell apart.
Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored 39 seconds apart on three straight shots, the fastest three goals by one team in Cup Final history. The old record belonged to the 1954 Canadiens, who needed 56 seconds.
Take a look at the fastest three goals the Final has ever seen:
Carolina wasn’t done. Andrei Svechnikov tied it on the power play with 1:42 left in regulation, making the Hurricanes just the second team in Cup Final history to erase a four-goal deficit. The 1972 Rangers were the only other team to do it, and they lost that game too:
Bussi replaced Frederik Andersen to start the third and nearly stole the game. He stopped Marner on a short-handed penalty shot before the comeback even started and finished with 18 saves on 19 shots. Carter Hart made 29 for Vegas.
Game 4 goes Tuesday night in Vegas. Carolina just proved no lead is safe in this series.
