Carolina Hurricanes stun Vegas in overtime to level Stanley Cup Final
SEO Title: Hurricanes rally past Golden Knights in overtime to even Final
SEO Description: Seth Jarvis scored on the power play in overtime as Carolina beat Vegas 4-3 in Game 2, tying the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Seth Jarvis hammered home a one-timer 3:56 into overtime Thursday, and the Carolina Hurricanes turned another wild Stanley Cup Final night into a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at Lenovo Center.
Jarvis beat Carter Hart from the left circle on a Shayne Gostisbehere feed during a power play, giving Carolina a split through two games. The best-of-7 series now shifts west for Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Carolina had watched a two-goal lead disappear before losing Game 1 by a 5-4 score Tuesday. This time, the Hurricanes erased Vegas’ 2-0 advantage with three third-period goals, then recovered after Mark Stone forced overtime with 1:21 left in regulation.
Quick facts
- Final score: Hurricanes 4, Golden Knights 3 in overtime.
- Series: Tied 1-1 after two games.
- Game 3: Saturday in Las Vegas, 8 p.m. ET, on ABC, SN, TVAS and CBC.
- Carolina went 2-for-4 on the power play and killed all four Vegas advantages.
- Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots; Carter Hart made 22 saves.
- The Hurricanes are 6-0 in playoff overtime games, while Vegas fell to 3-1.
“These are the games you want in the playoffs,” Jarvis said, pointing to the swings in momentum and the uncertainty that has marked the opening two games. “You couldn’t ask for much more from a series.”
Brett Howden put Vegas in command with goals at 13:33 of the first period and 7:23 of the second. His 12th and 13th goals of the postseason matched Jonathan Marchessault’s franchise mark for goals in one playoff run, set in 2023.
The Hurricanes had little push early in the third, but Logan Stankoven changed the building at 10:20. He stripped Rasmus Andersson behind the Vegas net, drove the puck around the right post and saw it deflect in off Jeremy Lauzon.
Stankoven said the play was about getting the crowd involved again and working for a puck when Carolina needed a spark. He called the bounce fortunate, but it cut the deficit to 2-1 and opened the door.
“Someone had to make a play,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Stankoven got the place going, then another guy followed with a play.”
That next play came from William Carrier, who held the blue line after Eric Robinson sent the puck out of the defensive zone. Carrier found Mark Jankowski with a backhand pass as Lauzon fell into him, and Jankowski snapped a high glove-side shot from above the left hash marks to tie it 2-2 at 12:46.
Carrier said he knew Jankowski was attacking down the wing and trusted his linemate’s shot. Jankowski’s finish set up a frantic final stretch.
Andersen made a sprawling stick stop on Ivan Barbashev’s wraparound at 15:00. The puck eventually crossed the line, but the on-ice ruling was no goal because Barbashev interfered with Andersen’s ability to cover the puck.
Vegas coach John Tortorella challenged the call, but video review upheld it. NHL executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom said the official immediately determined the Vegas player had interfered with the goaltender before the puck entered the net.
Tortorella said he saw a loose puck near Andersen and believed his player did not dislodge the goalie, adding he would make that challenge every time.
The unsuccessful challenge gave Carolina a power play, and Jordan Staal tipped Gostisbehere’s shot in front only 25 seconds later for a 3-2 lead at 15:25. It was a major correction from a Carolina power play that went scoreless without a shot in two Game 1 chances, then managed only one shot on two opportunities in the opening period Thursday.
Vegas could not convert a power play that began at 16:31, but Stone found the equalizer at 18:39. The puck deflected off Stone in front and then off Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin into the net.
Stone said Vegas pushed through the adversity of the disallowed goal but could not finish the job. The Golden Knights return home believing they can regain control of the series.
“We’re in a good place,” Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “There were plenty of things we did well. We have errors to clean up, but we’re looking forward to getting back home.”
Tomas Hertl was called for tripping Staal at 3:17 of overtime. Carolina required just 39 seconds to convert, with Gostisbehere collecting his second assist of the night on Jarvis’ winner.
Staal credited the Hurricanes’ ability to stay patient and trust their game through difficult stretches. Carolina is now 7-for-7 on the penalty kill in the series.
“Keep the wave moving,” Jarvis said after delivering the series-leveling goal.
Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb left the game after being struck in the face by an 87.3 mph shot from Nikolaj Ehlers at 10:52 of the first period. McNabb was taken to hospital, and Tortorella had no update on his condition following the game.
