After falling at home in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Carolina Hurricanes overcame a 2-0 deficit before eventually evening the series with an overtime winner on Thursday in Raleigh.
Forward Seth Jarvis beat Vegas netminder Carter Hart to win Game 2 by a score of 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Knights scored the opening two goals of the game off the stick of winger Brett Howden in the first and second periods.
But in the third period, across a span of two minutes and 26 seconds, the Hurricanes came back to score twice off the sticks of Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski.
A controversial decision at the five minute mark of the third period saw what could have been a game-winning goal by Vegas winger Ivan Barbashev chalked off. Vegas coach John Tortorella challenged the play and lost, leading to a penalty.
On the ensuing power play, defenseman Shane Gostisbehere ripped a shot from the point that was tipped by Staal to take the lead.
Seth Jarvis (center) scored the game-winning goal to even the Stanley Cup Finals
The Vegas Golden Knights built a 2-0 lead with a pair of early goals from Brett Howden
But Carolina fought back, taking a lead off a deflection from captain Jordan Staal
Seconds after a last-gasp Golden Knights power play was nullified, a shot from the point ricocheted off Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen and was swatted in by Vegas captain Mark Stone to force the eventual overtime period.
But in that extra frame, the Golden Knights made a fatal mistake and were in need of a penalty kill when Thomas Hertl committed a trip.
Out of position, Gostisbehere found an un-defended Jarvis to the right of Hart to rip a one-timed shot over the goalie’s shoulder to win the game and even the series.
The loss for Vegas comes after defenseman Brayden McNabb was sent to the hospital following a horrifying shot to the face.
While McNabb’s visor took most of the brunt of the shot from Nikolaj Ehlers, the puck did clip McNabb in the face, sending him to the ice. The team later revealed he was taken to the hospital.
The series now turns to Vegas where Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals begins on Saturday evening.
