Knights’ Reilly Smith Had No Clue If Game-Winning Buzzer-Beating Goal Counted

Reilly Smith reacts to his game-winning goal against Edmonton.
Reilly Smith reacts to his game-winning goal against Edmonton. / @NH

The Las Vegas Knights won Game 3 of their second round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers on a buzzer-beater. Reilly Smith scored the game-winning goal with less than a second remaining in the third period to get the Knights their first win of the series.

The goal came so late that Smith didn't have any idea if it actually counted. He threw his arms up because he saw it go in the net, but quickly came back down to Earth as he skated towards the bench, having no clue if he beat the buzzer.

Even as his teammates celebrated and officials announced that the call on the ice was that the goal counted, Smith looked like he was trying not to get his hopes up.

Upon official review, the goal was scored at 0.4 seconds remaining after it hit Leon Draisaitl's stick.

It was an especially heartbreaking loss for the home crowd. Not just because the puck crossed the line with 0.4 seconds remaining because it hit Leon Draisaitl's stick, but because Connor McDavid had tied the game with just over three minutes remaining, giving them hope that they could win in overtime and take a 3-0 series lead.

Just a brutal way to lose.


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Stephen Douglas
STEPHEN DOUGLAS

Stephen Douglas is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has worked in media since 2008 and now casts a wide net with coverage across all sports. Douglas spent more than a decade with The Big Lead and previously wrote for Uproxx and The Sporting News. He has three children, two degrees and one now unverified Twitter account.


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