Mitch Marner is creating magic in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he simply produced a brand new act. The star ahead scored a hat trick — and a pure one, at that — in Sport 3 in opposition to the Anaheim Ducks Friday evening to propel the Vegas Golden Knights to a dominant 6-2 victory and a 2-1 collection lead.
His fingerprints have been actually throughout this contest, in each side of the sport. After recording an help on Brayden McNabb’s short-handed marker halfway through the primary interval, No. 93 tucked dwelling a power-play objective with simply 5 seconds left within the body. That objective in the end ended Ducks starter Lukáš Dostál’s evening — backup Ville Husso began the second interval.
The goalie change made no distinction for Marner, although. He adopted up a formidable first body with a pair of even-strength targets within the second to finish his first profession post-season hat trick as nicely as his first profession four-point playoff recreation.
He now has six targets through 9 video games this spring, which doubles his earlier post-season excessive attained in 11 video games with the 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs. He completed that playoff run with 14 factors — only one greater than he’s acquired now in his first run with the Golden Knights.
He’s at present in a five-way tie for the league lead in playoff targets and stands alone atop the NHL’s factors leaderboard.
Marner’s goal-scoring was gradual to warmth up with Vegas in these playoffs, however his offence arrived on the excellent time. He scored twice in Sport 6 of Spherical 1 in opposition to Utah to get rid of the Mammoth, and any questions on whether or not he’d be capable to carry that momentum into Spherical 2 have rapidly been answered.
Marner’s transfer to the wing brings huge enhance
Even when the factors weren’t pouring in like they have been Friday evening, Marner has performed rather well this post-season. But it surely’s no coincidence his finest statistical outing got here in a recreation that noticed him returned to his winger roots.
With William Karlsson lacking the majority of the 2025-26 season, Marner has been filling a workforce want at centre. He’s had expertise there earlier than, however has performed on the wing for just about his whole professional profession. That’s the place he’s finest, and at his most efficient.
Forward of Friday’s matchup, with Karlsson suiting up for his third recreation of the post-season after being out since November, Vegas head coach John Tortorella shook up his traces somewhat and positioned Karlsson between Marner and Brett Howden. On the wing, Marner was magic.
It received’t be a shock to see Tortorella roll out that very same trio in opposition to for Sunday’s Sport 4.
Golden Knights’ penalty kill simply retains getting higher
If we sound like a damaged document, praising Vegas’ PK recreation after recreation, nicely… it’s simply that good. Vegas has but to surrender a power-play objective this collection. Simply as they did in opposition to Utah in Spherical 1, the Golden Knights’ penalty kill is outscoring their opponent’s energy play. Friday’s shorthanded marker was Vegas’s third of the post-season. They’ve received all three video games through which they’ve scored on the penalty kill, the unit clearly bringing a a lot larger enhance and momentum shift than their energy play (which, to be truthful, has began to get up of late).
With a penalty kill this good, Vegas is beginning to look unstoppable.
Stone’s damage delivers powerful blow in in any other case nice recreation
Opposite to what the scoresheet says, not every thing went completely for the Golden Knights on Friday evening. Whereas the membership received in dominant trend, they misplaced captain Mark Stone to damage early on within the matchup. Throughout his seventh shift of the primary body, Stone pulled up with what regarded like a lower-body damage, skating to the bench mid-play and instantly limping down the tunnel. He didn’t exit for the second interval, although did he did make an look again on the bench for a quick stint, hitting the ice throughout a TV timeout however rapidly departing. He didn’t return after that.
Accidents have plagued Stone through a lot of his profession, together with this season — he was restricted to 60 video games this 12 months.
After enjoying hero in Sport 2, Dostal takes a step again
Dostál received the goalie battle in Vegas two nights in the past, however Carter Hart was the final goalie standing in Anaheim. Hart’s sturdy begin was key for Vegas in Sport 3, whereas the Ducks’ lack of ability to resolve him early on was made worse by the very fact the Golden Knights clearly had Dostal’s quantity. After permitting three targets on simply eight pictures within the first interval, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville turned to Husso.
Husso didn’t fare too nicely, both, permitting two targets on 9 pictures within the second interval, however he held sturdy within the third regardless of the sport being all however determined at that time.
The state of Anaheim’s web will likely be an attention-grabbing speaking level forward of Sport 4. Dostal appeared to have hit his stride in Sport 2, however did he simply take a step again? Do the Ducks really feel he has a bounce-back forward, or may they flip to Husso once more? Attention-grabbing instances forward in Anaheim.
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