Golden Knights fans are probably happy to have Mark Stone inked for the next eight seasons.
The seventh-year winger scored the first hat trick of his career as part of a five-point performance, leading the Golden Knights to a 6-3 Game 3 win over San Jose on Sunday. The victory gives Vegas a 2-1 lead in its first-round series with the Sharks, making the second year franchise the first team in NHL history to hold a lead in each of its first five playoffs series..
Stone got to work right from the first puck drop, netting a wide-open goal 16 seconds into the first period for his fourth of the series. It was the fastest postseason goal in the NHL in nearly two years.
Mark Stone's goal 16 seconds into Game 3 was the fastest goal to start a playoff game since Joe Pavelski tallied 15 seconds into Game 4 of the 2017 First Round for San Jose. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/eQVcxTO9rZ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 15, 2019
Stone's continued to score early in periods as his second goal came on a rebound with 36 seconds gone in the final frame.
After two San Jose goals cut the Golden Knights' lead to two, Stone took a pass from fellow five-point scorer Paul Stastny and beat Sharks' goaltender Martin Jones for the third time with a smooth backhand to complete the hatty.
Stone's performance doubled his goal total for the series and also featured his first two assists of the 2019 postseason, both on Stastny goals.
IT’S RAINING
— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 15, 2019
IT’S POURING
MARK STONE IS SCORING pic.twitter.com/ysZxDhrUrC
Vegas will look to extend its series lead on Tuesday.