Jarvis scores in OT, Hurricanes top Golden Knights in Game 2 to even Cup Final

RALEIGH, N.C. -- This time, it was the Carolina Hurricanes’ turn to end up on the right side of a wild, back-and-forth, emotional game in what is turning into an epic Stanley Cup Final.

Seth Jarvis scored a power-play goal 3:56 into overtime, lifting the Hurricanes to a 4-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 at Lenovo Center on Thursday.

Jarvis blasted a one-timer from the left face-off circle off a pass from Shayne Gostisbehere into the short side past Carter Hart for the game-winner after Carolina rallied for three goals in the third period to take the lead, only to give it back with 1:21 remaining.

The Hurricanes tied the best-of-7 series 1-1 after losing Game 1, 5-4, on Tuesday, when they had an early two-goal lead, couldn't hold it, came back twice to tie it and eventually lost late in regulation.

Game 3 is at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, TVAS, CBC).

"This is exciting," Jarvis said. "This is what playoff hockey is all about; tight games and momentum swings and you never really know what's going to happen next. I don't think you can ask any more of a playoff series."

Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski and Jordan Staal scored in the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit and give Carolina a short-lived 3-2 lead before Mark Stone tied it at 18:39. Gostisbehere had two assists. Frederik Andersen made 23 saves.

Carolina improved to 6-0 in overtime games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas dropped to 3-1.

The Hurricanes were 2-for-4 on the power play with Staal and Jarvis getting it going after looking lethargic on it in Game 1 (0-for-2, no shots) and the first period of Game 2 (0-for-2, one shot). They were also 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, improving to 7-for-7 in the series.

"Our group, this playoffs especially, has just been holding the rope, like we've been talking about," Staal said. "Just staying with it, just staying with it, and just being patient with our game and trusting our game. I think we've done a great job of that."

Brett Howden scored the Golden Knights' first two goals to give them a 2-0 lead and Mark Stone scored a game-tying goal late in the third period. Hart made 22 saves. 

"We're fine," Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said. "We have a positive group in here. We did a lot of good things tonight. We need to improve on some of those mistakes, but we're all good. We're excited to go back to Vegas and take control of the series again."

Vegas built a 2-0 lead on goals from Howden at 13:33 the first period and 7:23 of the second. His 12th and 13th goals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs tied Jonathan Marchessault's team record for most goals in a single postseason. Marchessault had 13 in 2023.

But after a tough second and lackluster start to the third, Carolina found its game and scored three straight goals in a 5:05 span to take a 3-2 lead.

Stankoven cut Vegas' lead to 2-1 at 10:20. He stole the puck from Rasmus Andersson behind the net, wrapped it around the right post and watched it go in off Jeremy Lauzon.

"I think it was just great to get the crowd back into it," Stankoven said. "When you're down and out, I think you just have to rely on hard work and being able to hound pucks. I just tried to hop off the draw there and take it to the net. Kind of got a bit lucky, it ramped up his stick. I saw it go in and I was pretty excited."

He's right about the crowd getting back into it. Vegas was stalling the Hurricanes through the first 10 minutes of the third period, holding onto a 2-0 lead and looking like it wasn't going to relinquish it. Then Stankoven made his momentum-changing play.

"Somebody had to step up," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Somebody had to make a play. And that's what happened. 'Stanks' makes a play and all of a sudden you get the building going again, and then somebody else makes a play."

That was William Carrier, who stayed onside at the blue line long enough to get the puck that was flipped out of the defensive zone by Eric Robinson. Carrier slid a backhand pass to Jankowski as Lauzon was falling on him, sending his linemate in with speed and space.

Jankowski tied it 2-2 at 12:46, scoring with a high glove-side wrist shot from above the left hash marks.

"You just have to do what you have to do to stay onside as much as you can," Carrier said. "I knew 'Janks' was going in on the wing there, so I just put it there. He's a good shooter. He's proven that throughout the year. I knew that was going in."

Andersen kept it tied with a sprawling stick save on Ivan Barbashev's wraparound attempt at 15:00. The puck did go in the net, but the call was no goal on the ice because the official ruled there was goaltender interference on Barbashev.

"He waved it (off) immediately," NHL executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom said. "He believed that it was under the goalie and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waved it off immediately."

Vegas coach John Tortorella challenged. Video review confirmed the call of no goal, that Barbashev interfered with Andersen, impairing his ability to play his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the Carolina net.

"I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie," Tortorella said. "Our player stabbed it. It didn't move the goalie. It goes through him and into the other side. I'd challenge it 10 out of 10 times."

The failed challenge resulted in a power play for Carolina. Staal scored 25 seconds into the man-advantage with a netfront deflection of Gostisbehere's shot, giving Carolina a 3-2 lead at 15:25. 

Carolina killed a Vegas power play that started at 16:31, but the Golden Knights still found a way tie the game 3-3 at 18:39, when Jaccob Slavin inadvertently knocked the puck in after it went off Stone in front.

"We battled back," Stone said. "Find some adversity with the disallowed goal and battled back, but just couldn't get over the hump."

Tomas Hertl went to the penalty box at 3:17 of overtime for tripping Staal. The Hurricanes needed 39 seconds to tie the series.

"Keep this wave rolling now," Jarvis said.

NOTES: Brayden McNabb left the game after the Vegas defenseman was struck in the face by Nikolaj Ehlers' 87.3 mph shot at 10:52 of the first period. ESPN reported he went to the hospital, but Tortorella did not have an update on his condition.