Hurricanes-Golden Knights double-OT thriller ends on bizarre Shea Theodore goal

Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final was absolutely wild, and the finish was no exception.

Shea Theodore was the hero for the Vegas Golden Knights, but his winning tally in double overtime will hardly be remembered as the prettiest goal in NHL history. Theodore fired a shot from near the blue line that rocketed off the end boards. Carolina‘s Jordan Martinook was unable to corral it and it struck Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi‘s skate, going into the net.

It was a brutal break for Bussi and the Hurricanes. The rookie goalie was inserted for starter Frederik Andersen to start the third period with the Hurricanes down 4-0.

Carolina erased that 4-0 deficit in the third, thanks in part to a record three goals in just 39 seconds before the ‘Canes added a late power play equalizer that sent the game to OT. Bussi stopped the first 18 shots he faced, but Theodore’s bizarre goal got through to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 series lead.

Game 3 of this high-scoring series is set for Tuesday, June 9 (8 p.m. ET, ABC).