Mitch Marner is creating magic in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he just produced a new act. The star forward scored a hat trick — and a natural one, at that — in Game 3 against the Anaheim Ducks Friday night to propel the Vegas Golden Knights to a dominant 6-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
His fingerprints were truly all over this contest, in every facet of the game. After recording an assist on Brayden McNabb’s short-handed marker midway through the first period, No. 93 tucked home a power-play goal with just five seconds left in the frame. That goal ultimately ended Ducks starter Lukáš Dostál’s night — backup Ville Husso started the second period.
The goalie change made no difference for Marner, though. He followed up an impressive first frame with a pair of even-strength goals in the second to complete his first career post-season hat trick as well as his first career four-point playoff game.
He now has six goals through nine games this spring, which doubles his previous post-season high attained in 11 games with the 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished that playoff run with 14 points — just one more than he’s got now in his first run with the Golden Knights.
He’s currently in a five-way tie for the league lead in playoff goals and stands alone atop the NHL’s points leaderboard.
Marner’s goal-scoring was slow to heat up with Vegas in these playoffs, but his offence arrived at the perfect time. He scored twice in Game 6 of Round 1 against Utah to eliminate the Mammoth, and any questions about whether he’d be able to carry that momentum into Round 2 have quickly been answered.
Marner’s move to the wing brings massive boost
Even when the points weren’t pouring in like they were Friday night, Marner has played really well this post-season. But it’s no coincidence his best statistical outing came in a game that saw him returned to his winger roots.
With William Karlsson missing the bulk of the 2025-26 season, Marner has been filling a team need at centre. He’s had experience there before, but has played on the wing for pretty much his entire pro career. That’s where he’s best, and at his most productive.
Ahead of Friday’s matchup, with Karlsson suiting up for his third game of the post-season after being out since November, Vegas head coach John Tortorella shook up his lines a little and placed Karlsson between Marner and Brett Howden. On the wing, Marner was magic.
It won’t be a surprise to see Tortorella roll out that same trio against for Sunday’s Game 4.
Golden Knights’ penalty kill just keeps getting better
If we sound like a broken record, praising Vegas’ PK game after game, well… it’s just that good. Vegas has yet to give up a power-play goal this series. Just as they did against Utah in Round 1, the Golden Knights’ penalty kill is outscoring their opponent’s power play. Friday’s shorthanded marker was Vegas’s third of the post-season. They’ve won all three games in which they’ve scored on the penalty kill, the unit clearly bringing a much bigger boost and momentum shift than their power play (which, to be fair, has started to wake up of late).
With a penalty kill this good, Vegas is starting to look unstoppable.
Stone’s injury delivers tough blow in otherwise great game
Contrary to what the scoresheet says, not everything went perfectly for the Golden Knights on Friday night. While the club won in dominant fashion, they lost captain Mark Stone to injury early on in the matchup. During his seventh shift of the first frame, Stone pulled up with what looked like a lower-body injury, skating to the bench mid-play and immediately limping down the tunnel. He didn’t go out for the second period, though did he did make an appearance back on the bench for a brief stint, hitting the ice during a TV timeout but quickly departing. He didn’t return after that.
Injuries have plagued Stone through much of his career, including this season — he was limited to 60 games this year.
After playing hero in Game 2, Dostal takes a step back
Dostál won the goalie battle in Vegas two nights ago, but Carter Hart was the last goalie standing in Anaheim. Hart’s strong start was key for Vegas in Game 3, while the Ducks’ inability to solve him early on was made worse by the fact the Golden Knights clearly had Dostal’s number. After allowing three goals on just eight shots in the first period, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville turned to Husso.
Husso didn’t fare too well, either, allowing two goals on nine shots in the second period, but he held strong in the third despite the game being all but decided at that point.
The state of Anaheim’s net will be an interesting talking point ahead of Game 4. Dostal appeared to have hit his stride in Game 2, but did he just take a step back? Do the Ducks feel he has a bounce-back ahead, or might they turn to Husso again? Interesting times ahead in Anaheim.
