The 2026 Stanley Cup Final delivered another classic game on Saturday night, with the Vegas Golden Knights picking up a 5-4 double-overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes to take a 2-1 series lead.
Shea Theodore scored the game-winning goal on an absolute fluke play, helping the Golden Knights avoid what would have been an historic meltdown.
After jumping out to a 4-0 lead going into the third period, Vegas allowed Carolina to score four consecutive goals — including three in 39 seconds — to tie the game.
Had Vegas lost, it would not only have been the worst Stanley Cup Final collapse in league history, but it might also have been a devastating loss that could have completely swung the series.
Thanks to Theodore and some luck, they do not have to worry about that.
Here are some more winners and losers from Saturday’s game.
Game 3 winners
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights. It is not the way he drew it up, but Theodore is officially in the books as the Game 3 hero thanks to his double overtime goal.
It required a weird bounce off the boards, and then hitting off Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi, but it shows how accurate the old OT motto in hockey really is — no shot is a bad shot.