The Vegas Golden Knights overcame an early three-goal deficit to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, seizing a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. With the victory, Vegas is one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history.

Tomas Hertl scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, while Mark Stone and William Karlsson each contributed a goal and an assist. Additional goals came from Keegan Kolesar and Brett Howden, who added an empty-net goal in the closing moments. Mitch Marner and Kaedan Korczak recorded two assists apiece. Goaltender Carter Hart made 32 saves, helping the Golden Knights rally from a three-goal deficit for the first time in 20 playoff attempts in franchise history.

Colorado, which had already dropped the first two games of the series at home, started strong with a quick 3-0 lead. Gabriel Landeskog opened the scoring early in the first period by converting a rebound off a Devon Toews shot, followed shortly by Nazem Kadri's wrist shot from the high slot, assisted by Martin Necas. Jack Drury then increased Colorado's advantage with a short-handed breakaway goal, his first in the playoffs, bringing the Avalanche ahead 3-0 less than eight minutes into the game.

Vegas fought back in the second period. Stone, returning from a lower-body injury after missing five games, sparked the comeback 19 seconds into the frame by redirecting a Marner pass to make it 3-1. Karlsson quickly followed with his first playoff goal on a rebound, and Kolesar completed the comeback by deflecting a Dylan Coghlan shot off the post and into an open net, tying the game at 3.

Midway through the period, Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon, who led the NHL with 53 goals during the regular season, suffered a right knee injury after blocking a Shea Theodore shot. MacKinnon's ice time was limited for the remainder of the game.

Hertl gave Vegas the lead for the first time with 11:39 remaining, using a quick move to get inside Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski and score a backhand shot. Colorado pulled goaltender Scott Wedgewood for an extra attacker late in the third, but Howden secured the victory with an empty-net goal with just under a minute remaining. Wedgewood finished with 18 saves for the Avalanche.

The series continues on Tuesday in Las Vegas with Game 4, as the Avalanche seek to avoid being swept and the Golden Knights aim to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Final.