In the heart-stopping world of the NHL playoffs, the Las Vegas Golden Knights have finally struck against the Edmonton Oilers, and not a moment too soon. This wasn’t just any victory; it was a nail-biter, a game for the ages that will surely be etched in the minds of fans and players alike.
As the clock raced towards overtime in a critical Game 3, the Oilers held a tenuous 2-0 lead. But the Golden Knights, driven by an unyielding spirit, maneuvered the puck into the hands of the player everyone believed could deliver—a twist of fate awaited them.
Enter Reilly Smith, the hero of the night, who scored the breathtaking game-winner with a mere 0.4 seconds on the clock. He didn’t do it alone; his moment of glory was crafted with assists from William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, and—poorly timed for the Oilers—Leon Draisaitl, whose stick became an unwitting accomplice in this thrilling finish.
Initially, the euphoria was muted; the referee waved off the goal, believing it hadn’t crossed the line. However, replays revealed the unmistakable truth: the puck had struck the camera inside the net, igniting a wave of disbelief and thrill among fans in Rogers Place. The final score? A dramatic 4-3 victory for the Golden Knights, leaving the Edmonton crowd in stunned silence.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Smith’s goal registered as the third-latest regulation game-winner in playoff history, trailing only Nazem Kadri’s 0.1-second stunner in 2020 and Jussi Jokinen’s lightning-quick shot at 0.2 seconds in 2009.
Even Smith himself was left trying to decode the chaos, revealing to the “NHL on TNT” panel,
“From my angle, it seemed like it hit the middle bar, but it came out so fast and I wasn’t really sure if the time expired,” he admitted. “Then I peeked at the ref, and he’s telling me, ‘It didn’t go in,’ so I’m just fortunate we were able to get something with time running down there.”
The Golden Knights fought valiantly to even set the stage for such a miraculous finish. Down two goals early in both the game and the series, they rallied admirably, with Smith and Nicolas Roy striking back within a minute towards the end of the first period.
Veering into the second period, the Knights took the lead with a goal from Karlsson, only to experience the gut-wrenching blow of Connor McDavid netting the equalizer with just three minutes remaining before Smith’s incredible last-second strike sealed the deal.
Even Reilly Smith was left in disbelief after his stunning finish in Game 3 of the Golden Knights-Oilers clash. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
(Leila Devlin via Getty Images)
Smith’s journey back to the Golden Knights began midway through the season, transferring from the New York Rangers in exchange for Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick. After spending six seasons with the Knights and tasting playoff glory with a trip to the Stanley Cup finals during their inaugural year, he finally claimed his first championship in 2023.
Mark your calendars—Game 4 is set to unfold at 9:30 PM ET on Monday in Edmonton. Will the Golden Knights carry this momentum forward, or can the Oilers regroup for another fight? The tension builds as we await the next chapter.
