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LAS VEGAS — On a night when Mitch Marner was so locked in that he erased a 29-year-old NHL record and began solidifying his Conn Smythe Trophy case, there was only one thing he missed: the Hurricanes’ goaltending change.
Marner didn’t realize Carolina had replaced Frederik Andersen with backup Brandon Bussi to start the third period of Saturday’s Game 3. That detail became critical when Marner was awarded a penalty shot four minutes later. Bussi, a right-handed catcher, denied Marner’s backhand deke — the only moment all night the Golden Knights’ star looked out of sync.
“I really didn’t notice they switched goalies, and I didn’t notice he’s an off-hand catcher,” Marner admitted. “A lot of thoughts ran through my mind on that penalty shot.”
That rare miss did little to dim what will go down as the signature performance of an already Hall of Fame-caliber career.
Marner scored three straight goals in a blistering 6 minutes and 10 seconds — fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, breaking Maurice Richard’s mark of 6:21 set in 1997. He also added an assist on Tomáš Hertl’s second-period goal, recording the first four-point period in Cup Final history.
When Vegas’ 5-4 double-overtime win finally ended, Marner had 10 shots on goal — just the sixth player ever to reach that number in a championship-series game.
“He had a great game,” linemate William Karlsson said. “He could have had even more, but three’s good enough, I guess.”
Marner earned his penalty shot while killing a penalty, stealing the puck at his own blue line before being chopped down by Sebastian Aho on a breakaway. He finished with seven points in three Cup Final games — a total only Wayne Gretzky (eight in 1988) has surpassed in the last century.
With 28 playoff points, Marner now holds an eight-point lead atop the postseason scoring race. Once haunted by playoff demons during nine years in Toronto, he now looks unrecognizably comfortable under the brightest lights.
“He has always been a great player — a big-game player,” said Patrick Marleau, Marner’s former Leafs teammate. “He’s proven that over and over. Tonight is no different. Mitch is a beast!”
Said Jake Gardiner: “Anyone who’s ever played with Mitch knows how special he is. I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s showing the world how great a talent he is.”
Even Jack Eichel was left shaking his head: “It was incredible. He’s been doing it all playoffs. He’s on another level right now.”
After logging 27-plus minutes of ice time, Marner stood in the Vegas dressing room with a “Hockey Night in Canada” towel draped over his arm, showing no signs of fatigue.
“I feel pretty good, to be honest,” he said. “You train for these things.”
The Golden Knights now hold a 2-1 series lead — thanks to a performance for the ages.
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