Live Blog: Cup Final Game 3, Marner gets fastest hat trick in Final history

Welcome to Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Vegas leads the best-of-7 series 2-1 after an epic 5-4 double-overtime win. NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price was in Las Vegas to provide all the sights, sounds and highlights.

12:25 p.m. ET

And that's it for an insane night in Vegas. 

The Golden Knights get a crazy bounce with 14:22 left and get the 5-4 win in Game 3, and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series. 

Shea Theodore gets the goal but it's Jordan Martinook who hits the puck in off the skate of goalie Brandon Bussi. 

Nuts. 

Vegas led 4-0 after two periods. Carolina tied it up in the third. 

Just nuts. 

Remember, two days off before Game 4. We all need a rest. 

See you Tuesday.

12:22 a.m. ET  

We are five minutes into the second overtime and neither team has had a good scoring chance. 

The hype folks in the Fortress are working OT tonight to keep the energy up. It's been a long game - we are about four hours from puck drop. 

Of course, it's only 9:20 here, so not past my bedtime yet. 

I know these guys are professional athletes, but this is impressive that they still have the legs to be skating hard and hitting hard in this second OT. 

Just impressive.

12:12 a.m. ET 

The second overtime has begun. 

I think I know why no one scored in the first OT - because I didn't make any OT predictions. 

So here goes 

For Carolina, look for Nikolaj Ehlers 

For Vegas, I'm going with Jack Eichel. 

I did correctly predict Seth Jarvis on Thursday. 

We'll see. Someone has to score eventually, right?

11:59 p.m. ET

And we are going to a second overtime. It was a back-and-forth affair, with each team getting some chances, but no one scored. 

Mitch Marner had a great chance with about 30 seconds left, but Brandon Bussi stopped him. 

So we play on. 

The Christopher Cross show is definitely out. Now I'm not sure if I get to the Ellis Island casino tonight. 

Amazing moment here, the DJ played a song by The Killers and it wasn't "Mr. Brightside." 

It was "Somebody Told Me." JF Chaumont from NHL.com French site is not happy.

11:48 p.m. ET

Dylan Coghlan almost sent everyone home with about 8:20 left, throwing a backhander on goal that Brandon Bussi got a piece of, but must have lost track of it because he flopped on his back to cover it up. 

The whole crowd held its collective breath on that one. 

Vegas is starting to get some push, but neither goalie is giving an inch. 

We have 5:15 to go in the first overtime. 

What a game. What a series.

11:40 p.m. ET 

We are now halfway through overtime. The Hurricanes are pushing the pace and getting some chances, but Carter Hart, despite looking shaky, is keeping them off the board. 

Vegas needs to find a way to get zone time because Carolina is getting to its game. 

It feels like only a matter of time before the Canes score, but you never know. 

As I type that, Vegas gets a good chance which results in an icing and the shovel crew is on the ice with 9:49 left in the first overtime. 

Notice I said first overtime, We could be here a while. I think any chance of getting to the Christopher Cross show is out the window.

11:21 p.m. ET

Overtime is about to begin. Before it does, here is some wild stuff from the NHL Stats crew, who are feverishly working next to us in the press box. 

As feverishly as Dan Rosen, who is doing the running game story and Shawn Roarke, who is doing the stock report, which needs to be filed as soon as the game ends. 

And me with this live blog. This is nuts. 

Anyway, here are some stats from just the third period.  

Mitch Marner took the 14th penalty shot in Stanley Cup Final history. Only one player has scored: Chris Pronger on Carolina's Cam Ward during the 2006 Cup Final. 

The Hurricanes scored three goals in a span of 39 seconds, the fastest three goals in Stanley Cup Final history and the fifth time a team has notched three tallies that quickly in any playoff game. The previous record for fastest three goals by one team in the Final was 56 seconds, achieved more than 72 years ago by the 1954 Canadiens.

There has never been a four-goal comeback win in the Stanley Cup Final (there have been only four in any playoff game). The largest margin overcome for a Stanley Cup Final win is three goals, achieved most recently by the Oilers in Game 4 last year; before that, the previous instance was by the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the 2006 Final.

There has only been one instance of a team erasing a deficit of four or more goals in the Stanley Cup Final, regardless of result. That occurred more than 50 years ago in Game 1 of the 1972 Stanley Cup Final when the Rangers trailed 5-1 before tying the score at 5-5 in an eventual 6-5 regulation defeat against the Bruins.

Jordan Staal joined Brad Marchand (3 GP in 2025) as the second player age 37 or older to score in the first three games of a Stanley Cup Final.

This is the second time in Stanley Cup Final history that there has been a tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation in consecutive games and just the third time overall – Game 2 and Game 3 of 1964 Final and Game 2 and Game 4 of the 2025 Final. 

This is the third consecutive game between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights with a tying goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation – a first in Stanley Cup Final history. It is just the second Final in NHL history to have three games at any point in the series with a tying goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation (also 2013: Games 1, 4 and 6).

Overtime

This is the fifth Stanley Cup Final since 2014 to feature consecutive overtime games and second in as many years, following Florida-Edmonton in Games 1-2 in 2025.

Carolina-Vegas is the fourth Stanley Cup Final since 2014 to require multiple overtime games within the first three contests of the series, alongside 2025 (Game 1-2), 2016 (Game 2-3) and 2014 (Game 1-2). The last two instances saw each team earn an overtime win.

Players in tonight’s lineups with a playoff overtime goal:

Carolina: Jordan Staal (3), Sebastian Aho (2), Nikolaj Ehlers (2), Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin and Andrei Svechnikov

Vegas: Brett Howden (3), Ivan Barbashev, Pavel Dorofeyev, Nic Dowd, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore

Seth Jarvis can become the third player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in consecutive Stanley Cup Final games, following John LeClair (Game 3-4 in 1993 w/ MTL) and Don Raleigh (Game 4-5 in 1950 w/ NYR). Leon Draisaitl (Game 1 and 4 in 2025 w/ EDM) is the only other player with multiple overtime goals at any point of a single Final.

11:09 p.m. ET

And we are going to overtime. 

The goal goes to Andrei Svechnikov to tie the game. 

Coach John Tortorella thought about challenging for goalie interference, but opts not to. 

This has been an unreal third period and series. We are tied in this game after Carolina falls behind 4-0 in the second only to tie it in third. 

Holy heck. 

This place is stunned. I think everyone is stunned. 

See you back in about 15 minutes.

11:30 p.m. ET

We are five minutes and 10 seconds into overtime and you can cut the tension with a sword. 

Everytime Carolina comes into the offensive zone, the crowd tenses up. 

When Vegas enters the Carolina zone, the crowd goes crazy. 

It's a see saw of emotions.

10:56 p.m. ET

We have under six minutes left here, Vegas still leads 4-3 after failing to score on the power play. 

Fasten your seatbelts because you know Carolina is going to do everything it can to tie this game. 

Regardless of what happens here, these first three games of this Cup Final have to be the most memorable, exciting, back-and-forth we've seen in a long, long time. 

It's great theater and very entertaining, unless you are a Canes or Knights fan - then it has to be excruciating.

10:49 p.m. ET

Vegas, trying to hold on here, is going on the power play with 7:53 left after a delay of game call against Carolina. 

Carolina is pushing for that tying goal while Vegas is trying to hold onto a lead that just a few minutes ago seemed unsurmountable. 

Vegas led 4-0 with 13 minutes left in the third period, but Carolina scored three goals in 39 seconds and here we are. 

You can sense the tension in the crowd each time Carolina brings the puck over the blue line, almost as if fans are waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

Remember, not only did Vegas lead 4-0, it looked in complete control.

10:43 p.m. ET

For those of you able to keep pace with this game. 

Mitch Marner scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history (6:10) to give Vegas a 4-0 lead after two periods. 

Marner, with a chance to give Vegas a 5-0 lead, gets stoned on a penalty shot. No big deal, right. 

Then the Hurricanes score three goals in 39 seconds and now it's 4-3 with still over 11 minutes to play. 

Just complete chaos here in Vegas. And there is more to come. 

This crowd doesn't know what to do. Neither do I.

10:38 p.m. ET

Hold the party, Vegas. 

The Hurricanes score three times in 39 seconds and just like that it's 4-3 and this place in stunned. It's the fastest three goals in SCF history.

The Hurricanes get on the board with 12:57 in the third to make it a 4-1 game and we get our first real fisticuffs of the game. 

Jordan Martinook, another NHL.com blogger, scores and then gets drilled from behind by Cole Smith. The two of them go into the boards and hands start being thrown. 

Then Taylor Hall scored at 7:29 of the third and it's 4-2. 

Just a few seconds later, Jordan Staal scores and it's 4-3. 

Just unreal.

10:32 p.m. ET

Well, Mitch Marner can't do everything.  

He had a chance to score his fourth goal on a short-handed penalty shot with 15:56 left, but new Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi made the save to keep it at 4-0. 

Still, the fact Vegas had a short-handed power play to begin shows you how much the Hurricanes are struggling tonight and how much the crowd of 18,233 is enjoying this.

10:26 p.m. ET 

A few updates for Carolina here. 

The first is Brandon Bussi is in goal for the Hurricanes, his first action of the postseason. 

The second is William Carrier is out for the game with an upper-body injury. 

Been a rough night all around for the Hurricanes.

10:23 p.m. ET

The third period has started and Vegas leads 4-0 thanks to Mitch Marner, who has the fastest hat trick (6:10) in Cup Final history. 

Needless to say, they are partying here in Vegas, and barring an epic collapse in the third period, the Knights will be two wins away from their second Cup in four seasons.  

If you're Carolina, while the score and Marner being on a heater has to concern you, the biggest concern has to come with how they have played tonight. They look disorganized and slow. 

Nick Carter just sounded the siren here to start the third and now "Jump Around" by House of Pain plays. 

What a scene.

10:05 p.m. ET

The second period is over and what a second period it was for Vegas. 

The Knights score four times, three from Mitch Marner, to lead 4-0. 

As if things can't get any better for Vegas, Noah Hanifin is back on the ice. 

What a night for Vegas and Marner, who has - according to our NHL Stats folks - the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history. That's three goals in 6:10, besting the previous mark of 6:21 set 69 years ago by Maurice Richard.

10 p.m. ET

This is turning into the Mitch Marner show. 

He scores his third goal of the night and hats are flying down from the rafters. He comes down alone on the right side and beats Freddy Andersen with a slap shot to make it 4-0 Vegas with 3:08 left. 

It took a few minutes to get all the hats cleaned up and that was fine with the Vegas fans, who are in full party mode. 

Amazingly, the hat trick - his second of the postseason - comes on a night they give out Mitch Marner towels for the fans. 

The party is on, the rout is on. Carolina is a mess right now. It's stunning to see.

9:53 p.m. ET

And now it's 3-0 Vegas and this time Marner puts it in himself. He came down on a breakaway, missed the net, got the puck back and cut to the net when he made a sick move to get around Andersen and bury it. 

It's now 3-0 Vegas with 5:20 left in the third period and this place is going absolutely crazy. 

What a postseason for Marner. He has nine goals now, two tonight. Add an assist from Brayden McNabb, which gets the crowd fired up again. 

This is the most disjointed Carolina has looked maybe in the entire postseason. They are allowing breakaways, they are missing coverages. They appear to be running around in circles.

They just honored all the teachers in attendance and played "ABC" by the Jackson 5.

Right after that, the announcer - a la Ron Burgundy - said he had an important announcement to make, and that announcement was free tacos tomorrow at Taco Bell for all Vegas fans.

9:49 p.m. ET

Vegas leads 2-0, but defenseman and NHL.com blogger Noah Hanifin is still not on the Vegas bench. 

His absence makes the fact that Brayden McNabb is playing that much more important. 

Not surprisingly, the two quick goals have given Vegas plenty of jump. The Golden Knights are now controlling the play and the Hurricanes are on their heels. 

Certainly not an ideal situation for Carolina to fall behind by two goals for the second straight game.

9:45 p.m. ET

Vegas scores twice - and they will count. Just 10 seconds into the power play, Tomas Hertl is left all alone in front, gets a sweet pass from Eichel and scores. 

Just 16 seconds later, Vegas scores again, this time Mitch Marner throws a puck near the goal and it deflects off the stick of Carolina forward Sean Walker and goes in. 

And this place is going nuts. After a somewhat sleepy 30 minutes, the Golden Knights score twice in 16 seconds to take a 2-0 lead.

9:41 p.m. ET

We are just past the hallway point of the second period and we get the first power play for Vegas because Carolina had two many guys on the ice with 9:44 left. 

Also, looks like Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin went to the Vegas room. 

I have to say, I haven't heard much metal music here tonight, which is shocking, not only because that's been a standard in Vegas, but because Metal Blade Records Founder Brian Slagel is in the building. 

OK, maybe playing death metal at a game may be a bit harsh for some fans, but how about some Metallica or Van Halen or something. I mean, Cattle Decapitation would certainly amp up the fans, right? 

Almost every song they play has a base line that makes the press box shake. It's like a Night at the Roxbury.

9:35 p.m. ET

They just did something funny on the board - it was called a "Lost Fan Alert" and then they showed two fans in Colorado Avalanche jerseys.

The told the fans if they want to, they could go the Vegas gift shop and buy merch for a team that's "actually still playing hockey." Ouch.  

If you're keeping score at home, Vegas has had two apparent goals disallowed - one for offside and one for goalie interference. 

On the bright side, Vegas is generating more offensive pressure and getting some good scoring chances, while Carolina seems a bit back on its heels this second period. 

They really play the whole knight thing to the hilt here, even the shoveling crew has a medieval name - The Knights Guard.

9:29 p.m. ET

We how have a second Vegas goal disallowed, this time because of goalie interference four minutes into the second. 

Jack Eichel appeared to score, but Ivan Barbashev bumped into Freddy Andersen before the puck went in. 

Needless to say, the fans are saying very, very mean things about the refs. 

Again, it was a clear goalie interference. Not sure what the refs are supposed to do.

9:23 p.m. ET

We have a significant development. Or so it seemed. 

Mark Stone appeared to score 36 seconds into the second period, but Brett Howden was offside, so no goal. 

The refs didn't see it, but Carolina did and challenged the goal and it was waved off. 

The fans are not happy, but what are the refs supposed to do, not enforce the rules?

9:18 p.m. ET

The second period has begun and William Carrier is back. 

I had an amazing experience between periods 1 and 2. My brother from LA is here for the game, so I went to visit him at his seat and to do so I had to walk through the Fortress. What a thrill. I'm not kidding. I love the Fortress and all that Vegas does here in-game to get the fans fired up. 

As for the game, let's see if any adjustments have been made. Vegas had just two shots on goal in the period and seemingly spent a lot of time in its own end. Carolina had seven shots, but seemed to carry the play. Will that continue? Who will score first? Why am I asking you?

The DJ plays "Thunderstuck" by AC/DC before the puck drops.

9:01 p.m. ET 

The first period is over and it's 0-0. 

Carolina carried the play for a good chunk of the first 20 minutes and has to be happy with how it played on the road. 

We had some more argy-bargy near the end of the first period, with 31.8 left after Nic Dowd was taken down by the boards. No penalty. 

Carolina outshot Vegas 7-2 in the first period, Seth Jarvis and K'Andre Miller having the best chances, but Carter Hart has been up to the challenge.  

Something to watch going forward. Carolina forward William Carrier looked to be favoring his arm after a hit on Jeremy Lauzon.

8:56 p.m. ET 

Seth Jarvis had the best chance to score so far tonight, coming in on Carter Hart, who turned him away. 

Jarvis looks like he has some pep in his step tonight after scoring the OT goal in Game 2. 

Still, we have had not had a goal yet with 2:10 left in the first. 

One thing that will not happen tonight is the NHL.com crew or any media member going hungry. 

There is a M&M buffet up here in the press box, and earlier there were personal pizza and gyros. 

Between a break in the action, they just showed a clip of Arnold doing the famous scream from "Predator." 

For a second I thought they were going to say he was here. 

No doubt, he would have his tarp off.

8:50 p.m. ET

This first period is playing out like we expected the series to play out - tight checking, not a lot of scoring chances, lots of forechecking and lots of hitting. 

With 5:14 left in the first, Carolina has four shots on goal while Vegas has two. 

Carolina is getting a little better of play, but it hasn't resulted in any real serious scoring chance. 

The fans are starting to get a little restless here with the Knights having issues generating offense. 

Still 0-0.

8:40 p.m. ET

We have our first sense of argy-bargy tonight, not much, but a little in-your-face action. 

If you think about it, there has not been much of that in the first two games. A few minor skirmishes, but nothing too serious. 

No one wants to take a dumb penalty that can cost their team the game. 

As I type that, Seth Jarvis and Mark Stone go at each other a bit in the Carolina end. 

Carolina is putting on the pressure, and seems to be controlling play, spending a lot of time in the Vegas zone. So far, Carter Hart has been up to the task, stopping Jordan Staal a few minutes ago on a deflection try right in front. 

As expected the music in here is heavy - they just played "Show Me What You've Got" by Powerman 5000.

Earlier, the Vegas dance team just did a number to a Anita Ward's "Knock on Wood." That's a classic 70s second. 

Speaking of classic 70s, Christopher Cross is playing in Vegas tonight. That's like Yacht Rock times 10.

8:35 p.m. ET

After an emotional pregame show with storms and knights and drummers and all sorts of mayhem, the game has gotten off to a somewhat tempered start. 

Five minutes in, each team had one shot on goal, none of much substance. 

I'm sure each team used the travel day to watch film and go over ways to tighten things up defensively. 

For two teams who usually don't allow a lot of goals, it was somewhat of a shock to see a total of 16 scored in the first two games. 

As I type this, the Canes put some pressure on Vegas, with Carter Hart making a point-blank save on a shot from Andrei Svechnikov. 

The "Go Knights Go" chants have begun here with the fans trying to get their team going. 

We're at our first shovel break with 13:41 left in the first and to this point, no tarps have come off. Stay tuned.

8:25 p.m. ET 

We are underway here in Vegas. 

Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders' No. 1 pick in the NHL did the siren honors here with his offensive line behind him. 

I have to give Vegas credit, they do announce the Hurricanes starters, with former Vegas player William Carrier getting a big hand. 

And I think I heard a few "Freddy, Freddy" chants after Frederik Andersen was announced as the Carolina goalie. 

Naturally, Brayden McNabb got a huge ovation when he was introduced as part of the starting lineup. Just incredible that he's in.

8:15 p.m. ET

The amazing pregame show is over and we are ready to play hockey.

I'm not sure what I love most about the Vegas pregame show. 

The golden knight skating onto the ice and vanquishing opponents with his mighty sword is always a scene to behold. 

Tonight, a person representing a storm came on the ice, flew into the air and sent a shockwave that sent the drummers on the ice into the air (You read that right). 

Then of course, the golden knight took care of that. 

Then you have the Golden Knights coming onto the ice to the John Wick theme through the knight's helmet that is lowered from the ceiling. Just incredible. 

Then, there are the anthems and the in-arena hype man getting everyone going. 

Funny moment: when the PA announcer first said the Carolina Hurricanes, he did it in a slow, think southern drawl. The gloves are off early. 

As if these fans need anything to get them ready for this huge game, the Vegas game presentation folks give them even more. 

Puck about to drop. 

Here we go.

8:10 p.m. ET

Not only is Brayden McNabb playing, he's in the starting lineup. 

Here is a look at all the lineups.

7:58 p.m. ET

Yes, Brayden McNabb was out there in warmups, wearing a full cage to cover his face. 

Less than 48 hours ago, he was hit square in the face with a 87-mph slap shot and now he's back. 

These guys are so tough, so dedicated to their teams and their craft, it's incredible. 

I stubbed my big toe on a chair in my hotel room the other day and I nearly cried it hurt so much. I can't imagine taking a frozen puck going close to 90 miles per hour right in the nose or mouth. 

Geez. 

Naturally, the fans gave a huge cheer when McNabb came on the ice for warmups. What a huge emotional lift that is for Vegas. 

It's starting to fill up in here. While the Hurricanes have a huge tailgate scene outside Lenovo Center in the parking lots, there is not much space to tailgate here with the arena on the strip between a few casino/hotels. Still, that didn't stop the party in Toshiba Plaza. 

I was out there about an hour ago and everyone was fired up. It was hot, but people didn't seem to care, wearing their Vegas jerseys. I even saw a few Carolina jerseys out there and in the casinos today. 

We are about 20 minutes from puck drop and about 10 minutes from one of the most amazing pregame shows you will see in all of sports. 

I can't wait.

7:45 p.m. ET

We have big news to report - Brayden McNabb is on the ice for warmups for the Vegas Golden Knights. 

This is the same Brayden McNabb who took an 87-mph slap shot to the face in the first period of Game 2 and didn't return. 

Coach John Tortorella did not provide any updates on Friday and this morning, and now it seems like he was playing a little cat-and-mouse game. 

Anyway, McNabb being in the lineup is a huge boost for Vegas and not only from a morale standpoint. He is one of their top defensemen and they need him in this crucial Game 3.

7:30 p.m. ET

Good evening, or in my case, afternoon from Las Vegas. With the 8 p.m. ET start, we drop the puck here at 5 p.m., so I will likely be confused all night with the time stamps.

We are a little over an hour from puck drop and this place is nuts. And this place is hot.

There was a big crowd outside the arena at Toshiba Plaza getting ready for the game at the Illenium concert. I even spotted a man wearing a Stanley Cup on his head.

You know it’s a big game when the chicken in front of Crack Shack – a great chicken joint – is wearing a Golden Knights jersey.

While the chicken has his shirt on, I’m sure there were already some tarps off, but not sure it was to rally the teams – like in Carolina in Game 2 -- or because of the heat.

If you want an idea of how hot it is out here, have someone aim a hairdryer at you while you walk around the house.

As for the game, it looks like Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb is not going to play tonight. He took an 87-mph slap shot in the face on Thursday in Game 2. Assuming he’s out, it’s a big loss for Vegas. He is a great defenseman, and he’s tough to replace.

Coach John Tortorella has not provided any updates on McNabb’s status the past two days - including this morning – so we should get more clarity during warmups.

If you want to know more about Game 3, check out Dan Rosen’s 3 Things to Watch right here. There is also a video in there with three really good-looking guys breaking down the game.

I’ll be back when warmups begin.