Golden Knights survive Hurricanes’ epic comeback in Game 3, take 2-1 lead in 2026 Stanley Cup Final

The Vegas Golden Knights took a decisive step toward their second Stanley Cup, escaping Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final with a 5-4 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in double overtime on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. The headline moment was the roller-coaster nature of the game. Vegas built a commanding lead, Carolina fought back from a four-goal deficit in the third period, and the night ended when Theodore’s shot bounced off the end boards and caromed in off Carolina goaltender Brandon Bussi at 5:38 of the second overtime.

The comeback was not a polite one. According to ’s recap, Vegas surrendered four goals in a span of 6:26 in the second period to go up 4-0 before the Hurricanes’ counterpunch found its way home later. Even with the collapse and the momentum shift, the Hurricanes still pushed the game past regulation and into two overtime sessions. The Golden Knights coach John Tortorella emphasized the need to settle after the blown lead and stated that little had to be said in the in-between moments, because the team knew what it needed to do once the game restarted.

Carolina’s resilience also carried a historical sting. The Hurricanes nearly became the first team to overturn a four-goal Stanley Cup Final deficit that large, a run of almost mythic scale for a game at this stage. ’s Game 3 coverage framed it as a near-record chapter that, in the end, did not change the result.

Individual production mattered for both sides as the game swung. reported that Mitch Marner finished with four points in the game, and that he became the first player to record four points in a Cup Final period. Earlier, the Golden Knights’ offense set the tone for the lead they eventually lost, including a stretch in which they scored on the power play and then added another goal shortly thereafter.

There were also reminders of how quickly roles can shift at the Final level. Bussi entered after Frederik Andersen was replaced as Carolina tried to stop the bleeding, and later noted that Bussi faced a high-volume, high-pressure stretch that included a penalty shot attempt from Marner in the third period. The same goalie, however, was on the wrong end of the final deflection when Theodore’s shot found its way in off his skate.

The result also reframed the series picture immediately. ’s schedule page lists the sequence as Vegas winning Game 1 (5-4), Carolina answering in Game 2 (4-3 in overtime), and then Vegas taking Game 3 (5-4 in double overtime). With the win, Vegas led the best-of-seven 2-1 and turned the Final back toward its home building, where Games 3 and 4 are scheduled.

Ahead of Game 3, CBS Sports published a preview built around a model-based market view. CBS Sports reported that the money line was nearly even, with Vegas listed at -110 and Carolina at -109, while the over/under for total goals was 5.5. CBS also wrote that the SportsLine projection model leaned to an Over on 5.5, expecting more than six combined goals in its simulation, which is consistent with how the game played out, even if the ending swung on a rare double-overtime bounce rather than the kind of controlled scoring pattern a projection typically anticipates.