Marner breaks Cup Final record in the same game Vegas almost choked
Why this story
Stanley Cup Final Game 3 featured historic individual performance and a double-overtime finish after a stunning comeback, making it one of the most watched and discussed sports events of the weekend.
FAN TAKE
Theodore's 2OT winner at 5:38 sealed a 5-4 escape — Vegas leads the series 2-1 despite surrendering a 4-0 lead.
CRITIC TAKE
Blowing a 4-0 Final lead is a red flag no hat trick headline can hide — Carolina scored 4 unanswered to tie before Vegas survived in 2OT.
ANALYTICS VIEW
Theodore's OT winner deflected off Bussi's own skate — Vegas's survival was luck-assisted, not built on sustained offensive control.
Hidden Truth
Hidden truth: The 'historic' 5-4 Vegas win was decided by a puck deflecting off Carolina's own goalie — Vegas hasn't proven it can close a lead.Read the full breakdown →
Is Mitch Marner the most valuable player in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final so far?
