Collapse in Carolina: Knights fall in OT as Hurricanes even Stanley Cup Final

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nine minutes away.

The series wouldn’t have been over. But it would’ve put the Vegas Golden Knights in as good of a spot as possible.

Instead, the Carolina Hurricanes have life, and the Knights will head back to Las Vegas wondering what could have been in a 4-3 overtime loss at Lenovo Center in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

The Knights saw a two-goal lead created by forward Brett Howden disappear in five minutes midway through the third period, aided by a controversial challenge call from coach John Tortorella.

With goaltender Carter Hart pulled for the extra attacker, captain Mark Stone tied it with 1:21 left on a rebound in front.

“We’re in a good spot there. About nine minutes away, but it’s a battle,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “It’s not going to be easy. Sometimes we have to go through a little bit of adversity.”

Center Tomas Hertl was called for tripping at 3:17of overtime. Carolina winger Seth Jarvis sent Raleigh into a frenzy 39 seconds later.

Jarvis fired a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff dot on the power play 3:56 into the extra frame.

The best-of-seven series is tied at a game apiece. Game 3 is at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

All of that almost didn’t happen.

Forward Ivan Barbashev appeared to break the tie in the Knights’ favor with five minutes left. His wrap-around was saved by Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen, but Brabashev appeared to jam the rebound and get the puck across the goal line.

The play was never ruled dead until the puck was over the goal line, then waved off by the referee.

Coach John Tortorella challenged it, and the call was upheld after a lengthy review.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie. Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side,” Tortorella said. “I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom said via a pool report that the ruling was goaltender interference.

“(The official) believed that it was under the goalie and the Vegas player (Barbashev) went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck, and waved it off immediately,” Walkom said.

Carolina captain Jordan Staal gave his team the lead 25 seconds later on the ensuing power play.

“That was crazy,” Howden said. “A lot going on.”

The storybook postseason for Howden continued with his second multi-goal game of the playoffs, giving him 13 this spring and tying the franchise record set by Jonathan Marchessault in 2023.

Howden opened the scoring with 6:27 left in the first, then added his second at 7:23 of the second on the Knights’ first six shots of the game.

The Knights played as close to a perfect game through 40 minutes, keeping Carolina off the scoreboard and stifling them despite a strong push in the first period.

The Hurricanes had a 27-9 edge in shot attempts in the opening 20 minutes.

Carolina restored that pressure in the third and broke through with 9:40 left. Center Logan Stankoven’s wrap-around bounced off defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to make it 2-1. Center Mark Jankowski scored 2:46, tying it 2-2.

Staal gave Carolina the lead 25 seconds after the failed challenge.

“That’s how the game of hockey goes sometimes,” said forward Mitch Marner, who had two assists. “We just have to stay patient and do the things that we did going through those first two (periods). I thought we kind of just gave pucks away a little too much.”

The Knights played the majority of the night without defenseman Brayden McNabb after he took a puck to the face in the first period.

ESPN reported McNabb was taken to a local medical facility. There was no update postgame.

Even with five defensemen, the Knights played a solid game for 50 minutes before everything unraveled. Shea Theodore led all skaters in ice time at 28 minutes, 30 seconds.

The Knights saw their seven-game winning streak end in improbable fashion. They had the finish line in sight, but fell short.

They didn’t want a split. They wanted to take both games in Raleigh. It’s still a confident group heading back home with a short turnaround ahead.

“We’re fine. We got a positive group in here,” Hanifin said. “We did a lot of good things tonight. We just got to improve on some of those mistakes, but we’re all good. We’re excited to go back to Vegas and take control of this here again.”

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.