{"id":491678,"date":"2026-06-07T00:24:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T04:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=491678"},"modified":"2026-06-07T01:02:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T05:02:46","slug":"vegas-carolina-game-3-final-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/06\/07\/vegas-carolina-game-3-final-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegas Carolina Game 3 Drama Ends In Overtime Victory for Golden Knights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vegas Carolina Game 3 from the 2026 Stanley Cup Final<\/a> delivered on all its promises, overtime, where would you rather be on a Saturday night? This is when you put your money on the house in Vegas, and the oddsmakers come through, on time and with a smile, and what better way to come through if you are a Vegas fan right now? The Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes have been everything promised from two powerhouse teams throughout the league to square off in the Stanley Cup Final of the 2026 NHL playoffs. Tonight’s game was no different. Vegas and Shea Theodore wins it 5-4 at 5:38 of double overtime, ultimately preventing one of the most epic playoff collapses in NHL history. Let’s see how we got here.<\/p>\n

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Credit Image: \u00a9 Luis Santana\/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire<\/span><\/p>\n

Vegas Carolina Game 3 Stanley Cup Final Gives Clear Advantage<\/h2>\n

Coming into Game 3, Brayden McNabb<\/a>‘s status did have a significant impact on the matchup game<\/a>, as would be (at least) partially determined by head coach John Tortorella, given that he was the home team decision maker. It could have spelled more open ice for the Hurricanes top line of Andrei Svechnikov<\/a>, Sebastian Aho<\/a>, and Seth Jarvis<\/a>, that had underperformed somewhat in these playoffs. In Game 2, they played less than three minutes together. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour looked to shuffle things around, as Justin Martinook found his way up with Aho and Svechnikov. Meanwhile, Jarvis shifts with Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers. This alignment would carry through for Game 3, as guys like Jarvis would hope for a breakout performance.<\/p>\n

The fact that McNabb was out there with the full cage in pre-game warmups to protect a suspected an injury to the nose area, had to be seen as a huge boost to Vegas’ confidence. It took a while in Game 3, but it definitely seemed to have a positive impact on the Golden Knights’ game.<\/p>\n

Game 3 Started Off Like a Defensive Showdown<\/h3>\n

Early in the first, McNabb did well to control Seth Jarvis and poke the puck off his stick. This showed he was able to keep up with the speed of the play. It helped him get his feet under him in Game 3.<\/p>\n

Coming into Game 3, in terms of storylines, there was plenty undecided. As the Vegas Golden Knights had managed to earn the split in Raleigh, North Carolina, coming home, they had a chance to dictate play as the series wore on. Carolina Vegas Game 3 began with both teams not giving an inch, fighting fire with fire.<\/p>\n

The goaltending had been so impactful coming into this game, despite that impact being that both teams have struggled, at times, this series. However, the same cannot be said for the playoffs as a whole, with both original starting goaltenders posting such great statistics.<\/p>\n

As Game 3 played out, by the start of the third, Vegas had chased Frederik Andersen, and Brandon Bussi was making his NHL playoff debut. He was 32-6-1 in the regular season, but hadn’t seen the net yet this postseason. In the end, the spectacular play for the teams’ goaltenders was overshadowed by the bursts of offence. Although both teams had two shutout periods in regulation, and another in overtime, so it was a very tight game for long stretches.<\/p>\n

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Hurricanes have historically excelled away from the Lenovo Center this postseason#SoundTheSiren<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Nhtyez9rNW<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n