Monday, 15 June 2026
Sunday, 7 June 2026
GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEAT HURRICANES IN 2OT'S, TAKE 2-1 STANLEY CUP LEAD
June 6 (UPI) -- Paralyzing tension stuffed T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, as the Vegas Golden Knights weathered a chaotic comeback and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The typically stingy Hurricanes held the Golden Knights to just two shots in a scoreless first period at T-Mobile Arena. Forward Mitch Marner then scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history in the second, steering the home team in firm control. But the visitors surged for four fourth-period scores to force overtime.
A lucky bounce for the Golden Knights ended Game 3, as a Shea Theodore shot ricocheted off a wall and net minder Brandon Bussi's pad and landed in the goal for the game-winner in the second bonus period.
"We just let our foot off the gas," Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. "I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I like the resiliency of the group."
With the win, the Golden Knights took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series. They will host Game 4 on Tuesday at home.
The Golden Knights outhit the Hurricanes 66-42. They held a 35-33 lead in shots and 30-14 advantage in blocks.
Marner registered an assist, in addition to his three goals in a record 6-minute, 12-second span. Fellow forward Tomas Hertle and Theodore logged a goal and assist apiece.
The Hurricanes trailed 4-0 when forward Jordan Martinook scored their first goal with 12:57 remaining. That score sparked the fastest string of three goals by one team in Stanley Cup Final history, with the Hurricanes finding the net two more times over a 39-second period.
Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal added the next two Hurricanes goals, cutting the deficit to one. Fellow forward Andrei Svechnikov scored the Hurricanes' final goal with 1:42 remaining in regulation.
"That can't happen again," Theodore said. "Just the bounces. Defensively we have to be sharper. ... I was fortunate to get a bounce there in overtime."
The Golden Knights had two goals disallowed early in the second period. Hertl broke the deadlock 10:26 into the frame, teeing up Marner's melee on the Hurricanes net.
Marner beat goalie Frederik Anderson for his first goal just 16 seconds later for a 2-0 Golden Knights lead. He found the net again with 5:28 remaining in the period for the Golden Knights' third goal.
Marner completed his hat trick with slap shot less than two minutes later.
The Hurricanes pulled Anderson in exchange for Bussi to start the third period. Martinook started their rabid rally by beating Carter Hart for the first time of Game 3. Hall followed with the Hurricanes' second goal 26 seconds later. Jordan Staal beat Hart for a third Hurricanes score with 12:18 remaining.
Svechnikov tied the score with a fourth consecutive score with 102 seconds remaining in regulation. Neither Alex Butlerteam scored in the resulting overtime period, triggering the second bonus period.
Defenseman Brayden McNabb slid the puck across the blue line for a Theodore one-timer attempt on the game's final sequence. The blast sailed wide of the net, but drilled the back boards, found the bottom of Bussi's left pad and flipped into the net, ending the thriller.
The Golden Knights will host the Hurricanes in Game 4 at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Las Vegas. Game 5 will be Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
- Alex Butler
Sunday, 31 May 2026
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Friday, 22 May 2026
Friday, 15 May 2026
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
MAPLE LEAFS NEXT MOVES AFTER WINNING 2026 NHL DRAFT LOTTERY
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| Getty |
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ stunning 2026 NHL Draft Lottery win will be cause for celebration among fans. The organization will take a step back and allow some time for the crucial victory to sink in.
But once the celebration is over and reality sinks in, the team will need to consider its next moves.
Viewing the situation with an objective mindset, two paths emerge. So, let’s analyze the bifurcation facing the Maple Leafs at this particular juncture.
Maple Leafs Could Just Keep the First-Overall Pick
The most evident path forward is for the Maple Leafs to keep the first-overall pick. While deciding who to select is another story for another day, the no-brainer decision will be to use the pick on a potentially transformational prospect.
The knee-jerk reaction would be to select Gavin McKenna. He would be an excellent running mate alongside Auston Matthews. McKenna would be another high-end goal scorer who could even supplant William Nylander atop the Maple Leafs’ lineup.
There are also two potential number-one centers in Ivar Stenberg and Caleb Malhotra. Either one could very well slide in behind Matthews, giving the organization the hope of finding a true top-six pivot who could take some of the pressure off Matthews.
Then, there’s the most interesting option of all. The Leafs could target Keaton Verhoeff, the 2026 NHL Draft’s top blueline prospect. Verhoeff has already pledged his desire to play in Toronto. So, he could be an interesting player the Maple Leafs could target.
As such, the easiest path is to keep the pick. Given the amount of elite talent in this year’s draft, it’s hard for Toronto to get it wrong.
Toronto Could Trade the Pick
Now comes the most contentious part. The Maple Leafs could explore trading the top-overall pick. Such a trade would involve two scenarios.
One would involve the Leafs trading down, potentially getting multiple first-rounders plus additional pieces in exchange for the top selection. A couple of teams fit that bill. For instance, the St. Louis Blues hold three first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. So, there might be something there for new GM John Chayka to consider.
The other scenario could involve the Maple Leafs trading out of the first round altogether, landing a haul from a team that lacks a first-round selection. For example, the Dallas Stars come to mind. Dallas could send RFA Jason Robertson, brother of Nick, to Toronto, plus a boatload of assets, in exchange for that one pick.
That deal would make sense, especially if the Stars felt that they could not keep Robertson. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, could keep Robertson by signing him to a long-term deal. Toronto would get the high-end scorer it’s looking for, while maximizing the return on the deal.
This path, trading the first-overall selection, would seem highly controversial. Unless the pick went for a player like Connor McDavid, the fact is that the Maple Leafs would play it safe by keeping the pick. There’s very little room for Toronto to get the pick wrong. If anything, this remarkable windfall could be what keeps the Leafs from descending into utter failure.
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