This one will sting for a while. The Carolina Hurricanes fell behind 4-0 after Mitch Marner authored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, roared all the way back to tie it 4-4 in the final two minutes of regulation, and then lost 5-4 in double overtime when a Shea Theodore shot banked off Carolina’s Jordan Martinook and past Brandon Bussi at 5:38 of the second extra period. Vegas leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 on Monday June 8 at T-Mobile Arena.
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Final score and box-score notes
- Final: Vegas Golden Knights 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4 (2OT)
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- OT winner: Theodore (2OT, 5:38, off a Martinook redirect)
- Hurricanes goals: Martinook, Hall, Staal (three goals in 39 seconds), Svechnikov (PP, goalie pulled)
- Golden Knights goals: Marner (3, fastest hat trick in Final history), Eichel, Theodore
- Goaltenders: Bussi relieved Andersen (Carolina); Hill (Vegas)
- Series: Vegas leads 2-1
What happened
It was, by any measure, one of the wildest games in Stanley Cup Final history, and the record book proves it:
- Mitch Marner scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history to stake Vegas to a 4-0 lead after two periods, with Eichel finally breaking out as a setup man.
- Down 4-0, Carolina scored three goals in 39 seconds (Martinook, Hall, Staal) , the three fastest consecutive goals in Stanley Cup Final history, shattering a 72-year-old record (Montreal’s 56 seconds in the 1954 Final).
- Andrei Svechnikov tied it 4-4 on the power play with Bussi pulled for the extra attacker, 1:42 left in regulation.
- After a scoreless first OT, Theodore’s point shot in double OT caromed off the end boards and off Martinook’s stick past Bussi. Because Theodore was the last Golden Knight to touch it, he got the goal.
Frederik Andersen was pulled after the four-goal first 40 minutes; Bussi played the comeback and both overtimes and very nearly won it.
The brutal beat for Carolina bettors
If you backed Carolina, this was the worst kind of loss. The Canes were +900 live after going down 4-0, hit the comeback, pushed to OT, and lost on a fluke redirect off their own player. The pre-game Carolina ML (-108) and the puck-line plays all settled losers.
What did cash: Over 5.5 (-124) hit easily (9 total goals). Both-teams-to-score (-300) cashed. The live-betting overs were the story of the night.
Series Futures After Game 3
| Team | Pre-G3 | Post-G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina to win Cup | -145 | +160 |
| Vegas to win Cup | +125 | -190 |
| Series to go 7 | +180 | +220 |
| Vegas in 5 | +320 | +260 |
| Carolina in 7 | +600 | +450 |
The market flipped hard. Vegas is back to clear Cup favorite at -190 and one win from a commanding 3-1 lead. Carolina, which was the Cup favorite 24 hours ago, is now a +160 underdog.
Conn Smythe Market After Game 3
| Player | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marner | +300 | Fastest Final hat trick ever vaults him to the lead |
| Theodore | +350 | Two OT-affecting goals this series (G1 assist-heavy, G3 winner) |
| Eichel | +450 | Finally broke out as a playmaker in Game 3 |
| Aho | +600 | Still Carolina’s best Conn Smythe hope; needs a series turnaround |
| Hill | +900 | Survived the four-goal collapse to win |
The Hard Truth for Carolina
The Canes have now lost two of three despite arguably outplaying Vegas at 5-on-5 for stretches of every game. The problem is the same one that surfaced in Game 1: goaltending. Andersen has a sub-.850 series save percentage and was pulled in Game 3. Carolina’s path back in this series almost certainly runs through a goaltending decision , does Rod Brind’Amour stick with Andersen, ride the hot hand in Bussi, or go back and forth?
The good news: Carolina has been the better even-strength team and the power play is humming (Svechnikov’s tying goal was the man-advantage unit’s fourth of the series). If the goaltending stabilizes, this is still a winnable series. But 2-1 down with Game 4 on the road is a precarious spot.
Game 4 Preview
Game 4 is Monday June 8 at T-Mobile Arena, 8 PM ET on ABC. A Vegas win makes it 3-1 and all but ends Carolina’s hopes; a Carolina win sends it back to Raleigh tied 2-2 with home ice regained. Opening lines:
- Vegas ML -120, Carolina +100
- Total 5.5 (over -130 after three straight overs)
- Carolina puck line +1.5 (-260)
Carolina must win to avoid a 3-1 hole no team wants in the Final. The goaltending question and whether the Canes can survive another fast start from Marner-Eichel will decide it.
Where to Bet Game 4 From North Carolina
All eight NC-licensed sportsbooks are pricing Game 4 and the updated series futures. FanDuel runs the largest guaranteed welcome offer in the state (“Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed”, bet $5 for 7 days) and leads on Same Game Parlay pricing for the NHL.
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Compare all eight operators at our NC sportsbooks comparison, or revisit our Game 3 preview for the props framework that carries into Game 4.
Series schedule
| Game | Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Tue Jun 2 | Carolina | VGK 5, CAR 4 |
| G2 | Thu Jun 4 | Carolina | CAR 4, VGK 3 (OT) |
| G3 | Sat Jun 6 | Vegas | VGK 5, CAR 4 (2OT) |
| G4 | Mon Jun 8 | Vegas (T-Mobile Arena) | 8 PM ET ABC |
| G5 * | Wed Jun 10 | Carolina | If necessary |
| G6 * | Fri Jun 12 | Vegas | If necessary |
| G7 * | Sun Jun 14 | Carolina | If necessary |
* If necessary.
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