This is the first time in the Avalanche's history that they've been down 3-0 in a playoff series as the home team. They were previously 74-1 all-time in the playoffs when leading by at least seven goals.
It was also 170 games since the Avs had lost three games in a row in regulation.
As for the Golden Knights, it marked the first time in their nine-year history that they won a playoff game when trailing by three or more goals. They were 0-19 in such playoff games, while also being 4-139-3 during the regular season.
They are now one win away from their third Stanley Cup Final.
Game 4 between the Golden Knights and Avalanche is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th.
Recap & Highlights
It took just 3:21 after puck-drop for the first goal to show up on the scoreboard.
Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog scored his fifth goal of the postseason to put his team up 1-0 before the Golden Knights even had a shot on goal.
His fifth came off a rebound from Devon Toews' shot that was passed along by Nathan MacKinnon, both of whom recorded their eighth assists these playoffs.
Three minutes later, the Avs would double their lead in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
This time, it was Nazem Kadri, who scored his third of the postseason and his first of the series to give the Avs a 2-0 lead.
Martin Necas recorded his 11th assist in his 12th game these playoffs, while Josh Manson recorded his third.
Colorado's two goals in 7:03 minutes are the fastest two goals scored on Carter Hart in these entire playoffs.
This time being six minutes later, the Avs would continue to pour it on in the first period.
Jack Drury scored his third goal of the postseason during Vegas' first power play of the game to make it 3-0.
Colorado's three goals are the most goals Hart has let up in a single period all postseason. They would enter the first intermission outshooting Vegas a whopping 17-7.
Star defenseman Cale Makar led all skaters with 8:42 of ice time in the first period, as the Avs have put up the most SOG in a single period of any game for them in these playoffs.
Vegas thought they got on the board in the first period until it was called back.
After a shot from Mitch Marner that rebounded off Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood, Vegas' Pavel Dorofeyev had punched the puck into the net for what they thought was their first goal.
But after further review, it was called off and kept Vegas with a goose egg heading into the locker room.
The Golden Knights made sure not to waste any time coming out of the locker room with a power play as they tried to start a rally.
Mark Stone scored his fourth goal of the postseason on Vegas second power play of the night to make it 3-1.
Marner recorded his 13th assist, while Tomas Hertl recorded his sixth.
And the rally would continue as the Golden Knights struck again shortly after Stone's goal.
William Karlsson scored his first of the postseason and fifth of the year to make it 3-2. After playing in the first 14 games of the season, scoring four goals, the 33-year-old missed six months with an injury.
Marner was in on Karlsson's goal as well for his second assist of the night. It was Karlsson's 75th playoff point, tying Jonathan Marchessault for second most in franchise history.
Both of them sit behind Stone, who recorded his 77th point with his goal earlier in the game.
Vegas' rally wouldn't be denied as Keegan Kolesar tied things up 3-3 with not only his first goal of the postseason, but his first overall point.
It marked Kolesar's first goal in 37 playoff games, with his last coming against the Dallas Stars in 2023.
Dylan Coghlan recorded his first assist of the postseason, while Kaedan Korczak picked up his second as the Knights went into the second intermission with all the momentum.
Colorado took a major blow after superstar Nathan MacKinnon took a shot from Shea Theodore to the knee with 7:45 left to go in the second.
He had left the ice, returned for a couple of quick shifts, but didn't exit the tunnel with the team entering the third period. But, Avs fans everywhere breathed a sigh of relief after MacKinnon joined his teammates on the bench after a little more than two minutes into the third.
After MacKinnon left the ice, being noticeably slower, falling to just a power play specialist the rest of the game, the Knights made sure to take advantage.
Hertl scored his third goal of the playoffs in just the past six games after going scoreless in the previous 29 to make a 4-3 game in Vegas' favor.
Stone (5) and Korczak (3) picked up the assists.
From there on, the Avs couldn't find the net again as the Golden Knights rode their way to a third-straight win.
Brett Howden scored the final dagger, also his 10th of the postseason, to make it 5-3. Karlsson (4) and Theodore (6) picked up the assist.
After being outshot 28-15 through the first two periods, the Golden Knights held the Avs to just five shots in the third period.
Now, they have a chance for a sweep in Game 4 on May 26th.
