It was a second period to remember for the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final — and for Mitch Marner, in particular.
The Golden Knights forward scored a natural hat trick within just a six-minute, 10-second span, the fastest hat trick ever scored in Stanley Cup history, eclipsing Maurice "Rocket" Richard's previous record of 6:21.
The hat trick was part of a four-goal barrage from the Golden Knights after they saw two goals rescinded before.
Marner began his assault against his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Frederik Andersen in the Carolina Hurricanes net just 16 seconds after Vegas first got on the board, with Marner assisting on a power-play marker from Tomas Hertl.
On his first goal, Marner looked to be trying to move the puck to the front of the net before getting back on defence or ending his shift, but fortuitously saw it get redirected into the back of the net.
Fortunate that was, his next two goals were anything but flukes.
On Goal No. 2, Marner got the puck in the slot, then proceeded to dance around Andersen before tucking it home.
On his hat trick marker, Marner slapped one past Andersen on a breakaway.
Though the Hurricanes did mount a third-period comeback that threatened to shadow Marner's historic achievement, Shea Theodore — with his double-overtime winner — ensured the first-year Golden Knight could celebrate his accomplishment without reservations.
“Obviously, not how you envision the third in a way, but just really happy with how our group responded, just staying calm in the moment, coming back in between periods, or going into overtime there, just having the trust,” Marner said.
Marner's excellent play has caused no-shortage of debate among fans, particularly those who cheer for the Maple Leafs and never saw this level of productivity in the playoffs from him over his nine seasons in Toronto.
As such, reaction from around the hockey world came in to equally celebrate and lament Marner's feat.
— With files from Associated Press
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