January 1, HISTORIC: Vegas Defenseman Delivers Most INSANE Overtime Winner After Wild Stanley Cup Comeback

Wyatt’s Take

• Vegas Golden Knights delivered one of the wildest Stanley Cup Final games in history, winning in double overtime after Carolina tied it in the final minute
• Mitch Marner set NHL record with hat trick in just over 6 minutes, then Hurricanes answered with three goals in 39 seconds—fastest in Cup Final history
• Shea Theodore redeemed costly penalty with game-winner after 39 minutes on ice—pure grit and determination

The Stanley Cup Final shifted to Las Vegas for Game 3 with the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes tied 1-1 after splitting the opening two games in Raleigh. And as you’d expect from the Golden Knights, this one got started with some serious theatrics.

The city’s latest hope at quarterback got in on the festivities. That’s right—who better to put on siren duty than Raiders draft pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza?

There was a big surprise when the game got underway: Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb—who took a slapshot straight to the face on Thursday in Game 2—was in the Vegas lineup, albeit with a full cage. Hockey players are just built different.

The first period was physical but ultimately scoreless, with Carolina getting more offensive opportunities, leading Vegas in shots 7-2.

Vegas captain Mark Stone found the back of the net just 36 seconds into the second period. However, it was ruled offside after a Carolina challenge.

A few minutes later, Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel found the back of the net, but Carolina challenged this goal as well after Vegas’ Ivan Barbashev made contact with Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen’s head. It was another cut-and-dried review that kept a Golden Knights tally off the board.

The first penalty of the night was a self-inflicted one, when the Hurricanes were called for too many men. It didn’t take long for Tomas Hertl to make them pay.

Then, just moments later—16 seconds to be exact—Mitch Marner was credited with a goal after Carolina defenseman Sean Walker tipped his shot into the back of his own net.

But those own goals are no fun. Marner wanted to get one the old-fashioned way, which he did.

And Mitch Marner—who is having the playoffs of his life—had more in store. That’s right, Marner potted a hat trick in just six minutes and 10 seconds. That’s an NHL record.

What a performance.

After the second intermission, Andersen was pulled in favor of Brand Bussi, who made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.

Carolina was in a state of disarray in the third. After going on a power play, Sebastian Aho slashed Marner, who was headed to the net on a short-handed breakaway.

Marner was awarded a penalty shot, but Bussi didn’t give him much to shoot at. Marner missed his attempt on the backhand.

Carolina’s Jordan Martinook got the Hurricanes on the board a little under halfway through the third period to make it 4-1. Just moments later, Taylor Hall tacked on another one to cut Vegas’ lead to 4-2.

And while they’re doing goals, how about you just throw a Jordan Staal tally in there? Carolina scored those three goals in 39 seconds, the fastest three goals by a single team in Stanley Cup Final history. What looked like a no-doubt Vegas win became a game once again.

Carolina killed off a delay-of-game penalty, which was crucial for staying in the game.

Then, Vegas’ Shea Theodore airmailed a puck into the stands for delay of game, giving Carolina a late power play. Then—as if it couldn’t get wilder—Andrei Svechnikov tied the game on the power play and with the goalie pulled.

And with that, it was off to overtime for the second game in a row.

In the extra frame, both teams got their share of chances and opportunities to put a pin in this one. But the first overtime period didn’t yield a winner.

In the second overtime, we finally got a winner. And as wild as this game was, it was only fitting that the game-winner would be unbelievable.

That’s the same Shea Theodore, by the way, who skied the puck into the stands to set up the tying goal. And he did it after 39 minutes of ice time.

What. A. Game.

Wyatt Matters

This is what sports are supposed to be—grit, redemption, and never giving up. Theodore made a costly mistake, then stayed on the ice for 39 minutes and delivered when it mattered most. That’s the kind of work ethic and determination that built this country. Game 4 on Tuesday is must-watch television for anyone who loves watching winners refuse to quit.