The Carolina Hurricanes are back in a hole after dropping Game 3 on Saturday night. They've gone back and forth with Vegas through three games, providing the fans with one of the best openings to a Stanley Cup Final ever. Still, they sit one win away from changing the series once again. Their top line is starting to produce, too. Momentum is theirs to grab if they can put it together in Game 4.
Game 3: After a scoreless first period, Vegas took over during the second. Tomas Hertl scored on the power play, and Mitch Marner followed it with a natural hat trick. Down 4-0 going into the third, the Canes struck three times in 39 seconds before tying it on the power play with under two minutes left. In 2OT, Shea Theodore banked a shot off the boards and into the net to win it 5-4 for Vegas.
On the Other Side: Vegas Golden Knights
Call it luck. Call it skill. Call it whatever you want, so long as you call Game 3 a win for the Golden Knights, despite blowing a massive lead over the final 20 minutes of regulation. Mitch Marner was operating on a completely different level during the second period, scoring the fastest hat trick as part of the first-ever four-point period in Stanley Cup Final history.
Brayden McNabb also deserves a ton of respect for what he did in Game 3. He took a slap shot to the nose in Game 2, going to the hospital before the game ended. He refused to miss a beat, playing with a full cage and getting a massive round of applause from the fans during warm-ups. McNabb added two assists in the game, including the primary helper on the winning goal in double overtime.
What to Watch in Game 4
Andersen or Bussi: This is just about the only thing that is on the minds of every Caniac heading into tonight's game. Frederik Andersen, through little fault of his own, was lifted from Game 3 after Vegas scored six times against him in the second period, though only four of those goals counted. Regardless, Brandon Bussi took over for the third period and was excellent the rest of the way.
It has opened a discussion about which goalie should, and will, lead the team onto the ice for Tuesday's contest. Fan sentiment leans heavily in favor of Bussi, which is completely understandable. However, it wouldn't be unprecedented for Andersen to be back in the crease. I think there's a credible argument to be made in both cases, so I'm torn as to who I think it will actually be.
Andersen was not on the ice for Monday's practice, with the team calling it a maintenance day. Bussi was in what is typically considered the starter's crease, with Pyotr Kochetkov occupying the net on the opponent end. We're still in the dark as to who it will be, even though Rod Brind'Amour told the media that a decision had been made. The coach is teasing us all as we wait anxiously for the news.
