What a heartbreaking way for the Carolina Hurricanes to lose. After battling back from a four-goal deficit, Carolina watched a wild Game 3 slip away in the Stanley Cup Final on a cruel bounce in double overtime, falling 5-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The loss gave Vegas a 2-1 series lead and left Hurricanes fans stunned after one of the most dramatic games of the postseason. But if social media is to be believed, there may have been more than hockey at play.
WWE Star Danhausen’s “Curse” Strikes Carolina Hurricanes
Between Games 2 and 3, WWE fan favorite Danhausen was reportedly paid through Cameo by a Golden Knights supporter to place one of his trademark “curses” on the Hurricanes. Referring to them as the “Karolina Hurricañes,” the eccentric wrestler officially declared the team cursed in a video that quickly made the rounds online.
Given his track record of “cursing” teams during the 2026 NBA playoffs (which bizarrely aligned with a massive win streak for the New York Knicks), hockey fans were highly anticipating whether his jinx would translate to the ice. And it did.
Following Carolina’s crushing defeat, Danhausen wasted no time embracing the narrative. He posted on social media, “Pay Danhausen human money to uncurse this team.”
He also added one of his trademark disclaimers: “Danhausen is not responsible for uncursing being altered by outside forces. Uncurse at your own risk.”
Before the supernatural drama fully unfolded, Vegas forward Mitch Marner put on an absolute clinic.
Marner recorded a primary assist before exploding for a natural hat trick during a stunning 6-minute, 10-second stretch in the second period. The remarkable performance broke a 69-year-old Stanley Cup Final record previously held by Maurice “Rocket” Richard for the fastest hat trick in Final history.
By the start of the third period, Vegas appeared firmly in control with a 4-0 lead.
Hurricanes Refuse to Quit
Historically, teams trailing by four or more goals in the third period of a Stanley Cup Final game had never completed a comeback, entering the night with an 0-109 record.
The Hurricanes nearly changed that. Carolina erupted for three goals in just 39 seconds, setting a Stanley Cup Final record for the fastest three goals scored by a team. The stunning outburst completely shifted the momentum inside the arena.
Then, with the goalie pulled late in regulation, Andrei Svechnikov buried a power-play equalizer to complete the comeback and force overtime.
Despite Carolina’s incredible rallying effort, Vegas ultimately found the answer. After a scoreless first overtime period, Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore scored the winner in double overtime, sealing a dramatic 5-4 victory and restoring order to a game that had become complete chaos.
Whether fans credit Vegas’ resilience, Marner’s historic performance, or Danhausen’s questionable supernatural abilities, the Golden Knights now carry a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena.
As for Carolina, they may be searching for answers, and perhaps enough “human monies” to see if that curse can be reversed.
