The Las Vegas Golden Knights play against the Edmonton Oilers on the board. One of the most compelling games in the NHL playoffs can only get there.
Overtime, in Game 3 of the must-win game, with a 2-0 lead, the Golden Knights took the hockey to the hockey they needed for the players they needed, and they needed to steal the first victory of the series.
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Reilly Smith won the championship goal with 0.4 seconds left, assists from William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb and Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, his stick was at its worst position at the worst.
Initially, the referee thought it hadn't crossed the plane, but initially waved the target, but the replay indicated that it hit the camera inside the target. The result was a 4-3 Golden Knights win, while the shocked Rogers was the crowd.
According to SportsNet's Elliotte Friedman, the goal is the third-place statute match winner in playoff history, second only to 2020 Nazem Kadri (0.1 seconds left) AQND JUSSI JUSSI JOKINEN 2009 (0.2 seconds).
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Even Smith wasn't sure what was going on, as he told the "NHL on TNT" panel after the game:
“From my point of view, it seems to hit the bar in the middle, but it appears so quickly that I’m not sure if the time expires,” Smith told the NHL at the TNT PAST post office. “And I peeked at the referee and he told me, ‘It didn’t go in,’ so luckily we were able to get something over time.”
The Golden Knights took a lot of effort to reach the point where the miracle goal could win the game for them. The Oilers scored 2-0 in both the game and the series 12 minutes later on Saturday, but at the end of the first phase, Vegas responded with goals from Smith and Nicholas Roy.
The Cavaliers led the way with Carlsson's goal late in the second phase, but with three minutes left, they lost the potential attitude of Connor McDavid. Then, Smith.
Even Reilly Smith isn't sure what happened at the end of the third Golden Knights Oil. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
(Leila Devlin via Getty Image)Smith returned to Las Vegas at the season's trade deadline and rushed from the New York Rangers in exchange for Brendan Brisson and a third-round draft pick. He has played with the Cavaliers for six seasons, reached the 2018 Stanley Cup final in the team's inaugural season, and won his first championship in 2023.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in Edmonton at 9:30 pm ET.