LAS VEGAS — The Carolina Hurricanes are undefeated on the road in the postseason. But they know they haven’t seen an atmosphere quite like the one that awaits in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Vegas Golden Knights are known for their pregame festivities and show inside T-Mobile Arena.
What else would you expect in Las Vegas?
“It’s such a fun place to play. They’ve got such a great atmosphere and great vibe,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said before Saturday’s Game 3. “It‘s just such a different challenge, obviously, than being at home. But being on the road and given a chance to try to quiet 20,000 people is such a fun challenge.”
The best-of-seven series is tied at 1 after Carolina’s historic 4-3 overtime victory in Thursday’s Game 2 at Lenovo Center and Canes fans, many of them shirtless during the third period. Carolina became the first team since 1944 to win a Cup game in which it trailed by two goals with 10 minutes left.
Through two games, each team has scored eight goals, each has staged a comeback from two goals down and each has won a game decided late. Vegas’ 5-4 win in Game 1 attracted 4.78 million viewers.
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas promises to be as electric as Lenovo Center was for Games 1 and 2. It costs more than $500 for a single ticket in the upper deck.
“I don’t think we really care, to be honest, where we play,” Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen said. “We are focused on our foundation in our game, and that’s really what sets us up for success.”
Through eight years of playoff runs, the Rod Brind’Amour-era Carolina Hurricanes have learned some lessons, many the hard way.
That schooling has helped.
“We’ve been through a lot of it, and I think we understand the game really doesn’t change,” Brind’Amour said. “It shouldn’t change just because you’re changing venues. I think we understand that.”
The Hurricanes scored two power play goals late in the Game 3 victory, one from Staal on a deflection in front of the net and the other from Seth Jarvis on a slap shot in overtime. The Canes were 8-for-60 on the power play before that.
Vegas has not provided an update on defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was hit in the face by a shot from Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers in the first period of Game 2. McNabb, who went to the hospital for further evaluation, didn’t return to the game, but was able to fly back with the team.