Hurricanes’ 39-second rally makes history in Game 3, but Vegas wins in double overtime

Carolina erased a 4-0 third-period deficit by scoring three goals in 39 seconds, the fastest three in Stanley Cup Final history, then forced overtime again. The Golden Knights still escaped 5-4 in Game 3 on a Shea Theodore winner.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Carolina Hurricanes looked dead in the water in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, trailing 4-0 late in the second period and still down four early in the third. Then the home team of the moment, the Hurricanes, flipped the script in the space of 39 seconds, scoring three straight goals to pull within one and setting a Stanley Cup Final record for speed along the way.

Vegas Golden Knights had established control earlier through Mitch Marner, who delivered the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history by scoring three straight goals in a 6:10 span during the second period. Marner’s run carried Vegas to a 4-0 lead with 3:08 remaining in the second period, completing a stretch that had Carolina scrambling both in the neutral zone and at the edges of the attacking zone.

Carolina’s response began after a goalie change. Brandon Bussi replaced Frederik Andersen to open the third period, and the Hurricanes’ forecheck turned into finish. Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal scored with three consecutive shots 39 seconds apart, making it 4-3 with 12:18 remaining, the fastest three goals by any team in Cup Final history.

The comeback did not stop there. Andrei Svechnikov tied the game 4-4 with 1:42 left in regulation on a power play, scoring with Bussi pulled for an extra skater to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Vegas tried to protect the lead, but Carolina kept generating chances, and the sequence forced another overtime session after regulation ended knotted.

Vegas ultimately answered the disruption in the second overtime. Shea Theodore fired a one-timer from the right point, and the puck found its way into the net off the end boards at 5:38 of the second overtime to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 victory. It was a stunning turnaround for Carolina, but it also underscored how thoroughly the game had changed after the Hurricanes’ third-period surge.

The result reshaped the tone of the series. Vegas took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven, while Game 4 is set for Tuesday night with the remaining chapter now likely to hinge on whether the Hurricanes can repeat the urgency that arrived so late in Game 3, and whether Vegas can prevent the breakdowns that turned a seemingly comfortable lead into a marathon.

Why It Matters

The Hurricanes proved they can change a Cup Final game quickly, turning a multi-goal deficit into a tie even after earlier surrender of momentum.
Vegas carried a four-goal lead into the third, only to lose control and then endure a second overtime, a reminder that defensive lapses can be erased but also must be avoided.
Record-setting performances on both sides shift the psychological landscape, with Marner driving Vegas’ scoring surge and Carolina rewriting the pace record in response.
With Game 4 next, the series now has a higher likelihood of fast swings, especially if either team gives up early power-play chances or permits quick-strike transitions.

Sources

Key Facts

The Hurricanes scored three goals in 39 seconds in the third period of Game 3, the fastest three in Stanley Cup Final history.
Carolina goals during the 39-second stretch were scored by Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal.
Carolina trailed 4-0 early in the third period and made it 4-3 with 12:18 remaining, then tied 4-4 on Andrei Svechnikov’s power-play goal with 1:42 left.
Vegas won Game 3, 5-4, in double overtime on Shea Theodore’s winner at 5:38 of the second OT.
Mitch Marner scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, three goals in a 6:10 span, to help Vegas build a 4-0 lead in the second period.
Vegas leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET) on ABC and other listed national broadcasters.