LAS VEGAS — Mitch Marner needed just a few minutes to rewrite the Stanley Cup Final record book. The Golden Knights forward scored the fastest hat trick in championship history, and Vegas held on to beat the Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime on Tuesday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The game had more twists than a mountain road. Marner struck three times before the first period was nine minutes old — the quickest such burst in Final lore. Then Carolina erased a four-goal deficit in the third period, mounting the largest comeback in Final history to force overtime.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
After a scoreless first overtime, Shea Theodore broke through in the second extra period. His shot from the point caromed off the end boards and bounced in off the skate of goaltender Brandon Bussi, who was otherwise solid in his first Final start.
The series shifts to Carolina for Game 4 on Tuesday, June 9. The Golden Knights can push the Hurricanes to the brink of elimination with another road win. For the Hurricanes, the goaltending situation has grown uncomfortable — Bussi's unlucky bounce may prompt a difficult decision before the next puck drops.