Ivan Barbashev Leads Golden Knights' 5-3 Comeback, Take 3-0 Lead

Ivan Barbashev was part of a Vegas comeback that flipped Game 3 from a 3-0 hole into a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights erased that first-period deficit and left with a 3-0 series lead.

Stone Starts the Turn

Colorado opened fast with goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri and Jack Drury, all in the first period, and Vegas had to answer before the game slipped away. Mark Stone did that 19 seconds into the second period on the power play, and William Karlsson followed at 4:05 to pull the Knights within one.

Keegan Kolesar tied it 3-3 with 7:14 left in the second period, completing the climb before the third period turned into a one-goal game. Stone finished with two points in his return to the lineup, while Karlsson scored his first goal this postseason since coming back.

Hertl Finishes the Push

Tomas Hertl then delivered the goal that changed the scoreboard for good, scoring at 8:21 of the third period to put Vegas ahead 4-3. He also added an assist and earned first star honors, giving the Golden Knights their first lead after spending the opening period chasing Colorado.

Carter Hart stopped 32 of 35 shots and made at least 30 saves for the fifth straight game. Brett Howden added an empty-net goal with just under a minute left in regulation to lock in the 5-3 final.

Vegas Holds 3-0 Edge

The win put Vegas one victory from advancing, and it also extended a series that had already started with two Golden Knights wins, 4-2 and 3-1. The schedule now shifts back to T-Mobile Arena for Game 4 on Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m., with Game 5, if necessary, set for Thursday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at Ball Arena.

Game 6, if necessary, is scheduled for Saturday, May 30 at 5 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena, and Game 7 would be Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m. at Ball Arena. Vegas has already taken control; Colorado now has to find a way to stop a series that has moved all the way to 3-0.