Reilly Smith’s last-second goal secured a thrilling 4-3 win for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers. Following the exciting victory, players and Head Coach Bruce Cassidy shared their thoughts on the game.
Reilly Smith on the final play:
“I’ve seen Karl [William Karlsson] use that move a few times. He forechecks, spins, and gets the puck in front of the net. I jumped off the bench with about seven seconds left and tried to get there as fast as I could. Karl is great at finding pucks and being first on them, so I knew there was a chance. Once the puck came to me, I saw a lot of players throwing themselves in front, so I just hoped I could fake and find a lane, and it worked out.”
Smith on Karlsson’s overall performance:
“It’s not just tonight—Karl consistently plays like that. He brings the same game every night. Since I started playing with him, he’s been outstanding. He’s always doing the right things, creating turnovers, and generating offense. He’s a complete player, and it’s great to play alongside him.”
Smith on stepping up after Mark Stone’s exit:
“You can’t replace someone like Mark Stone. He’s a tremendous player and leader, but we have to step up as a team. Everyone needs to chip in and do a little more. That will be our mindset for the rest of the series.”
Smith on the team’s strength:
“The depth of this team is one of our biggest strengths. Everyone is ready for more opportunity, and that makes a difference. When players get more ice time, it’s a chance to prove themselves and help the team. We’ll need that going forward.”
William Karlsson on the importance of the win:
“This win was crucial. Going down 3-0 in the series would have been tough to come back from. We needed this one, and we’ll need the next one too. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Karlsson on Smith’s return:
“I’m really happy to have Reilly back. Not only is he a great player, but he’s also a good friend. Our families are close, and it’s great to have him back on the team.”
Nicolas Hague on the final moments of the game:
“That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in a hockey game. I was ready for overtime, but Reilly’s patience was incredible. We had a feeling it was going to count, and it was a huge relief to celebrate.”
Hague on the team’s resiliency:
“We’ve always had that resilience. Whether things are going really well or really bad, we stay even-keeled. We never think we’re out of it. Tonight showed that. We stayed in the game, focused on the next goal, and kept pushing.”
Noah Hanifin on coming back after being down 2-0:
“We played well and deserved this win. It was huge for us. We knew Edmonton would be tough at home, but after they scored a few, we calmed down and got back to our game. We’re confident here.”
Bruce Cassidy on facing adversity:
“You have to rely on past experiences when facing challenges. Our group is calm and competitive. They don’t panic when things go wrong. They’ve been through a lot, and they understand the ups and downs of the game. This experience will help us moving forward.”
Cassidy on Karlsson’s role:
“Karlsson is a key player for us. He plays in all situations and is very reliable. He helped turn around the last series while playing a checking role and still managed to create offense. He does it all, and that’s what we need.”
Cassidy on building momentum:
“After this win, we’ll wake up with the series at 2-1 Edmonton. We’ll enjoy the victory for a few hours, but then it’s back to work. Playoffs are all about preparing for the next game. Both teams will be focused on winning, and we’ll start getting ready for Game 4 tomorrow.”
