Hockey stays a sport of inches and bounces.
The Golden Knights have been seconds away from their most heartbreaking lack of the season. Reilly Smith then proved it’s all the time helpful to be fortunate moderately than good.
However the Knights have been good all night time, and have been rewarded when Smith scored his second aim of the sport with 28 seconds left in additional time for a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
The additional body was performed totally at four-on-four after the Flames killed a Kevin Bahl tripping penalty late within the third that carried into additional time.
Smith carried the puck down the proper facet and circled the web. Beneath the aim line, Smith tried to heart it to Brett Howden camped within the excessive slot.
Smith’s try banked off Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar’s skate then off the again of goaltender Dustin Wolf and into the web.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to get the puck in entrance to Brett,” Smith stated. “It took a lucky bounce.”
VEGAS WINS ⚔️
Reilly Smith scores in @Energizer additional time to present the @GoldenKnights the additional level! pic.twitter.com/PDCrw8zMTw
— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025
Smith recorded his twenty ninth profession multigoal sport and first since Nov. 4, 2023, when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Proper wing Pavel Dorofeyev scored his team-leading thirty third aim of the season, and goaltender Akira Schmid made 21 saves in his first begin with the Knights rather than the injured Ilya Samsonov (higher physique).
Defenseman Shea Theodore had the first help on all three targets.
Smith won’t have had an opportunity on the fortuitous game-winner if not for the Knights’ netminder.
Flames captain Mikael Backlund had a shorthanded breakaway on the finish of regulation that may’ve counted, however Schmid bought his glove on it to maintain the Knights alive.
Mikael Backlund goes for the buzzer beater however cannot beat Akira Schmid
🎥: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/EZGGs2JdHi
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 6, 2025
That may’ve accomplished an unthinkable collapse. The Knights, who led 2-0 within the second interval, almost gave it away.
Flames defensman Joel Hanley scored with 7.7 seconds left within the second, and proper wing Matt Coronato scored 43 seconds within the third to tie it 2-2.
Regardless of that, the Knights managed play for a lot of the night time. They benefited off an excellent begin, outshooting the Flames 12-7 within the first, that included Dorofeyev’s aim at 18:39.
“Little bit of reduction, for certain,” Smith stated. “I feel we did sufficient in that sport to win. Generally bounces don’t go your means and groups claw again in. I don’t suppose there was any panic within the locker room.”
It was a sport the Knights desperately wanted after shedding back-to-back house video games in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
The win allowed the Knights (46-22-8) to keep up a three-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings within the Pacific Division after the Kings defeated the Oilers 3-0 earlier Saturday.
In the meantime, the purpose for the Flames (36-27-13) helped. They path the Minnesota Wild by 4 factors, with a sport in hand, for the second wild card within the West.
“I can’t predict the long run,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy stated. “If we don’t win the title, might we nonetheless have an amazing playoff run? Completely. If we win the title, we assure much less journey and residential ice. It’s one thing we wish. Our guys are aggressive. They need to win it. That’s why it’s vital.”
Three takeaways from the win:
1. Schmid’s begin
In what can solely be greatest described as a struggling season for Schmid, this one will put a smile on his face.
The 24-year-old from Switzerland earned his first NHL win since Dec. 16, 2023, when he was with the New Jersey Devils. The Knights acquired him in a draft-day commerce on June 29, together with winger Alexander Holtz, for left wing Paul Cotter and a third-round choose.
Schmid’s run in Henderson has been something however constructive, going 9-18-3 with an .886 save proportion and three.58 goals-against common.
“That’s what you’re employed for within the AHL,” Schmid stated. “I’m glad it paid off.”
He’s the one different goalie within the group with NHL expertise, therefore why he was known as as much as fill in for Samsonov moderately than prime prospect Carl Lindbom.
Schmid didn’t see a lot work in his first Knights begin, however made stops when wanted. That buzzer-beater on Backlund ensured the Knights didn’t lose a 3rd straight sport within the worst means attainable.
“I believed he performed effectively,” Cassidy stated. “He doesn’t make that save on the finish, we don’t get the factors.”
2. Simply maintain capturing
Victor Olofsson’s stick bought a exercise Saturday.
The left wing recorded a career-high 9 pictures on aim, two shy of the Knights’ document held by Jonathan Marchessault in February 2020.
4 of Olofsson’s first 5 pictures got here on the Knights’ first energy play within the first interval. 4 straight one-timers from the proper circle have been all saved by Wolf.
However that shot additionally labored at five-on-five. Olofsson, Smith and heart William Karlsson outshot the Flames 12-3 once they have been on the ice.
Cassidy known as them one of the best line of the night time. They have been rewarded with Smith’s first aim at 9:57 of the second interval.
Robust lineup choices are coming when heart Tomas Hertl returns from his shoulder damage. Olofsson is making a case to not come out with how effectively he’s complemented Karlsson and Smith.
3. Again-to-back
The Knights did effectively of their final two back-to-backs. They’ll have to do it once more on Sunday in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Enviornment.
The Knights have achieved effectively when taking part in twice in 24 hours this season, now 14-8-1 in back-to-back conditions.
Vancouver wants a win to maintain its playoff probabilities alive, trailing Minnesota by six factors for the second wild card.
Edmonton and Los Angeles should not taking part in a back-to-back, so it’s a must-win for the Knights to go up 5 factors on the Kings with 5 video games remaining.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Observe @DannyWebster21 on X.
Up subsequent
Who: Golden Knights at Canucks
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
The place: Rogers Enviornment, Vancouver, British Columbia
TV/radio: KMCC-34; KKGK (1340 AM, 98.9 FM)
Line: Knights -150; complete 5½
