Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview: Game 3 vs. Hurricanes – The Hockey Writers – Vegas Golden Knights

Welcome to another Vegas Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview! After the teams split the first two games, the series heads to Nevada tied at a game apiece. A pivotal Game 3 awaits the Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes. Let’s jump into the storylines for the game.

Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Gameday Preview: Game 3 vs. Hurricanes (Series Tied, 1-1)

The Golden Knights suffered a tough loss in Game 2. The team took a 2-0 lead into the third period, very close to taking a 2-0 series lead back home. However, the Hurricanes rallied and tied the game, and a controversial failed coach’s challenge by John Tortorella put the Hurricanes right back on the power play, where they scored to take the lead. The Golden Knights did force overtime with a late goal, but Seth Jarvis scored in overtime to win the game for the Hurricanes.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddy (Andersen), our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie, and it goes through and went to the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

• Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev
• Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
• Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons – Mark Stone
• Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
• Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
• Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
• Jeremy Lauzon – Dylan Coghlan
• Carter Hart/Adin Hill

McNabb left Game 2 after taking a puck to the face in the first period. He was taken to a hospital for additional assistance. Tortorella said McNabb would be traveling with the team back to Vegas, but had no further update to provide. Assuming McNabb is out for Game 3 (and beyond), either Ben Hutton or Kaedan Korczak will likely take his place.

Team Leaders

Marner is the leader in points (24), assists (17), and plus/minus rating (plus-13). Eichel has also recorded 17 assists. Howden leads with 13 goals. Lastly, Smith leads with 22 penalty minutes.

In goal, Hart has recorded 13 wins while posting a 2.41 goals-against average (GAA) and a .917 save percentage (SV%).

Storyline #1 – McNabb’s Injury

McNabb has been an underrated part of the Golden Knights’ playoff run. He has averaged almost 20 minutes per game and has played strong defense. He even chipped in offensively in Game 1, recording three assists.

The Golden Knights have played without McNabb before in these playoffs, but the Hurricanes are a much tougher opponent than the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights need someone to step up in his likely absence. This is not a case of McNabb simply missing maybe one game and returning. He could be out for the remainder of the series.

Storyline #2 – Taming the Hurricanes on the Road

The Hurricanes are 13-2 in these playoffs, with their only two losses coming at home. The Canes head to Vegas with a 6-0 road record. To win in the playoffs, teams have to win on the road. The Hurricanes have done just that. Vegas is an intimidating place to play in, but the Hurricanes appear up for the challenge.

However, the Golden Knights hold an important card up their sleeve: their Game 1 win. Winning the game took home-ice advantage away from the Hurricanes. As long as the Golden Knights win all their home games, they win the series. If the Hurricanes win in Vegas, then the advantage flips back to them.

As frustrating a loss as Game 2 was, the Golden Knights still hold the advantage heading into Game 3. Winning Game 3 not only protects that advantage and gives them the lead in the series, but also hands the Hurricanes two things they have not had yet in the postseason: a road loss and a second loss in a series.

Storyline #3 – Execute Order 66

This storyline needs just two things: a Star Wars reference and some math.

In playoff history, when a series is tied after two games, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win it roughly 66% of the time. In the Final, that percentage increases to 77%.

This is just a trend. It is not an indicator of anything. Yet, it is something worth keeping in the back of our minds for Game 3.

How to Watch

Game 3 starts at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time. It can be seen on ABC.

Be sure to check back in with The Hockey Writers for more coverage as the Stanley Cup Final heads to Vegas!