Watch: Reilly Smith goes bar-south to push Jets to brink of elimination
From Florida Panthers cast-off to first-line assassin for the Golden Knights, Reilly Smith has, to say the least, made the most of his opportunity in Sin City.
Smith once again proved his worth to the city and his team with the biggest goal of his NHL career on Friday, potting the unassisted game-winner with less seven minutes remaining in regulation of Game 4.
After the usually steady-handed Dustin Byfuglien whiffed on a one-time attempt from the right point, Smith grabbed the puck and busted down the wing before ripping a perfect shot off the crossbar and in past Connor Hellebuyck, who just-so-slightly overplayed the shot to his left as Smith pulled the puck outside, leaving just enough space for the Golden Knights forward to thread it by him on the short side.
You’ll also notice the puck also rolled slightly up on its edge just before Smith released the wrister, resulting in a fluttering motion which surely threw a small wrench into Hellebuyck’s read of the shot off the blade.
Smith added a helper on the night and now has 16 points this postseason including a team-leading 14 assists. Vegas, meanwhile, now finds itself one win away from miraculously making a Stanley Cup final appearance during its first year of existence.
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