The Golden Knights of Las Vegas are on the board against the EDMONTON Oilers. It took one of the most dramatic games of the NHL qualifiers to get there.
With the time that turns to overtime in an essential match 3, the oilers leading 2-0, the Golden Knights obtained the washer where they needed, in the hands of the player they needed, with the rebound they needed to steal their first victory in the series.
Advertisement
It was Reilly Smith with the winning goal with 0.4 seconds to play, with William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb and, unfortunately, the star of the Oilers Leon Draisaitl, whose stick was at the worst place possible at worst time.
The objective was initially agitated with the referee thinking that he did not cross the plane, but rereading shows that he clearly hit the camera inside the goal. The result was a victory for 4-3 Golden Knights and an amazed crowd of Rogers Place.
PER ELOTOTE Friedman of SPORTNETThe goal was the winner of the third regulation in the regulation of the history of the playoffs, behind only Nazem Kadri in 2020 (0.1 seconds to the left) and Juss Jokinen in 2009 (0.2 seconds).
Advertisement
Even Smith was not sure of what had happened, As he said to the “NHL Sur TNT” panel after the match::
“From my angle, he seemed to have hit the middle bar, but he came out so quickly and I was not really sure of the expiration of time,” Smith told the “NHL on TNT” sign after the match. “And then I take a look at the referee, and he said to me:” It did not go “, so just the chance that we could get something with time to run there.”
It took a lot of effort for the Golden Knights just to reach a point where a miracle goal could win the match for them. The oilers were up 2-0 in the match and the series after 12 minutes on Saturday, but Vegas responded with goals from Smith and Nicolas Roy one minute from the other at the end of the first period.
The Knights took an advance on a goal from Karlsson at the end of the second period, only to lose the advance on a potential punch of Connor McDavid with three minutes to do. And then, Smith.
Even Reilly Smith was not sure of what had happened at the end of Match 3 of Golden Knights-Oilers. (Photo of Leila Devlin / Getty Images)
(Leila Devlin via Getty Images)
Smith returned to Vegas on the deadline for trade this season, coming from New York Rangers in exchange for Brendan Brisson and a third round choice. Previously, he played six seasons with the Knights, reaching the 2018 Stanley Cup final during the team's inaugural season and winning his first championship in 2023.
Match 4 is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on Monday in Edmonton.
